When tested with an XRF instrument, this “Christmas pickle” purchased at the Dollar Tree store (manufactured by Greenbrier International and Made in China) had the following readings:
On the main foam body of this sparkly green “Christmas pickle”
- Zinc (Zn): 34 +/- 19 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 385 +/- 46 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 2,413 +/- 131 ppm
- no other metals detected
On golden plastic cap* on the top (to hang it from):
- Lead (Pb): 45 +/- 6 ppm
- Barium (Ba): 523 +/- 143 ppm
- Chromium (Cr): 85 +/- 57 ppm
- Bromine (Br): 11 +/- 2 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 133 +/- 12 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 54 +/- 13 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 15 +/- 10 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 722 +/- 45 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 541 +/- 305 ppm
- no other metals detected
*Almost every single cap like this (the little plastic or metal tops for hanging Christmas ornaments) that I have tested have been positive for Lead at trace levels similar to this one.
Test results reported on this blog are accurate, science-based and replicable. Testing was done for a minimum of 60 seconds per component and repeated multiple times to confirm the results. Each set of results found was similar to the results sets noted above.
How much Lead is unsafe?
While Christmas ornaments are not regulated at all – as they are not manufactured or marketed as “items intended for use by children” (they are in fact generally considered to be “home decor” — which is a wholly unregulated category of consumer goods!), for reference, the amount of Lead that is considered illegal and unsafe in an item that is expressly manufactured and sold as something to be used by children is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint, glaze or coating and anything 100 ppm Lead or higher in the substrate. Given this came in at only 45 ppm Lead, it would be considered safe by all current standards (U.S. and European).
Some additional reading:
- To see more Christmas ornaments I have tested, click here.
- To see more Dollar store items I have tested, click here.
- To see more Greenbrier International items I have tested, click here.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts!
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
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