Things From Canada – Handmade Look Ceramic Mug: 28 +/- 12 ppm Lead in the substrate (safe by all standards!)

When tested with an XRF instrument the brown glazed mug pictured here (sent to me by a reader in Canada) had the following readings:

1) On a part with primarily brown glaze:

• Lead (Pb): Non-Detect / Negative
• Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative
• Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect / Negative
• Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative
• Antimony (Sb): Non-Detect / Negative
• Barium (Ba): Non-Detect / Negative
• Chromium (Cr): Non-Detect / Negative
• Selenium (Se): Non-Detect / Negative

2) On a part with primarily white glaze:

• Lead (Pb): Non-Detect / Negative
• Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative
• Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect / Negative
• Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative
• Antimony (Sb): Non-Detect / Negative
• Barium (Ba): Non-Detect / Negative
• Chromium (Cr): Non-Detect / Negative
• Selenium (Se): Non-Detect / Negative

3) On a part with primarily metallic glaze (the darker glaze on the bottom):

• Lead (Pb): Non-Detect / Negative
• Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative
• Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect / Negative
• Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative
• Antimony (Sb): Non-Detect / Negative
• Barium (Ba): Non-Detect / Negative
• Chromium (Cr): Non-Detect / Negative
• Selenium (Se): Non-Detect / Negative

4) On the base ceramic (the brown clay on the bottom):

• Lead (Pb): 28 +/- 12 ppm
• Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative
• Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect / Negative
• Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative
• Antimony (Sb): Non-Detect / Negative
• Barium (Ba): Non-Detect / Negative
• Chromium (Cr): Non-Detect / Negative
• Selenium (Se): Non-Detect / Negative

PLEASE NOTE:

All tests were done for a minimum of 30 seconds each – using a freshly calibrated Niton XRF instrument (an XL3T XRF testing in “consumer goods” mode). Tests were repeated multiple times on each component to confirm the results. All test results reported on this blog are science-based, accurate and replicable.

The glaze on this mug (all colors) is Lead-free. It is also thickly applied and in good shape. I have absolutely no concern for the trace amount of Lead found in the base ceramic of this piece. For context – items are considered unsafe for children if the substrate is 100 ppm Lead or greater – and even though the standard for children’s items does not apply to dishes, this mug would comply with that standard.

To see more mugs I have tested (and there are hundreds examples of mugs I have tested up on the site) – click here.

For Lead-free mug choices, click here.

Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions!

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama