Originally published: June 13, 2018
For those new to this website:
Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to test consumer goods for toxicants (specifically heavy metals — including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and Arsenic). All test results reported on this website are science-based, accurate, and replicable. Items are tested multiple times to confirm the test results for each component tested. Tamara’s work was featured in Consumer Reports Magazine in February of 2023 (March 2023 print edition).
I’m super excited to now own a set of these incredibly Lead-toxic mixing bowls for my “museum of Lead” collection! (They were an eBay find, purchased for my upcoming book: “I Make Women Cry And Throw Out Their Shit!“)
This pattern was the pattern that started it all for me — in terms of finding incredibly high Lead in vintage pyrex. When I first posted about this about 5 years ago, I was shocked at how high Lead these were (when tested with an XRF instrument), and later, I was shocked again to find out that they also tested positive with a LeadCheck swab.
What I think is excellent is that these readings are very close to the readings I got when I tested a similar item from this pattern years ago. The numbers are replicable. As with any scientific process, being able to replicate results is very important. If you can find the same values (for total XRF detectible Lead content) on similar bowls and pieces with the same pattern, then it is a pretty solid educated guess that all of the pieces with this pattern will have similar Lead levels.
To learn more about XRF testing, click HERE.
As you can see from the second picture (above), the Leaded coating does wear off over time… and where do the little bits go? Where does the chipped or worn-off material go when you nest the bowls? Where do the bits go when you wash the bowls? Do you wash the bowls when you take them off the shelf (after they have been put away stacked/ nested?). I doubt it.
For #SaferChoices for mixing bowls, please check out this piece.
Here’s the breakdown of XRF levels for this pattern…
White Floral Pattern of Larger Mixing Bowl
- Lead (Pb): 109,900 +/- 3,100 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): 1,042 +/- 60 ppm
- Barium (Ba): 260 +/- 93 PPM
Dark Green Base of Larger Mixing Bowl
- Lead (Pb): 70,000 +/- 2,500 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): 992 +/- 73 ppm
- 1,642 +/- 440 ppm chromium (Cr)
Plain White Milk Glass (Bottom) of Larger Mixing Bowl
- Lead (Pb): 190 +/- 27 ppm
For context: The amount of Lead considered toxic for a child in a modern toy (in the paint or coating) is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher. This paint is more than 1,000 times that amount of Lead and it is a vessel used for food preparation. As a result (and because these items test positive instantly with reactive agent swab testing) I discourage any food use applications for these vintage Pyrex items and I would prefer not to see them in homes with children at all (the ones I have purchased for my book are locked up in my shed so kiddos cannot get to them!).
The white flowers are the highest Lead, likely for two reasons:
- There are multiple layers of paint for the flowers, so the paint there is thicker and tests positive for higher levels of Lead and
- Lead-white is the base color and it has not been diluted with other colorants.
- Also important to note: If you tested this paint in a lab by scraping it off of the bowl, it would likely come in with a much higher level of Lead because the level would not be diluted by also reading the substrate (the low-level Lead milk glass) underneath.
Additional point to note: The level of Lead in the milk glass on this particular piece is lower than many pieces I have tested. I have seen the milk glass come in from around this range all the way up through 2,000 ppm and higher.
Thank you for reading and sharing our work!
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
If you appreciate what Lead Safe Mama does and would like to make a contribution in support of this independent consumer goods testing and Lead poisoning prevention advocacy work, please click here.
This close up shows where the paint has chipped and
worn off the surface and the lip of the bowl over the years.
My kitty (Bobby) got excited when I put the bowls out on the table to photograph them… and NO we don’t feed our kitty in vintage lead painted bowls!
Tamara, thank you so much for all you do! I’m hoping to find a test done on the Strawberry Street dishes sold at Walmart. I bought two sets because you can cook, freeze and serve with them. I don’t use a microwave so I’m wondering if the heat of the oven makes the metal contamination worse?
Hi – I am not familiar with those. Here’s how to participate in the testing I do (although with my legal battles I have been about 6 months behind in testing and am just catching up): https://tamararubin.com/2017/07/subscribe-in-support-of-my-advocacy-work-you-can-become-eligible-to-send-in-a-box-of-your-things-for-testing/
Tamara
Hello Tamara
I have a serving dish with that color and pattern. No chips. Can I sell it, if so where can I do that or even have it appraised ?
Hi Diane – these things are found on ebay all the time. This is a very popular pattern (there are a lot of them out in the world!) so likely not “worth” more than $10 or $20. If you do sell it please sell it with a Lead disclosure – so people know it should not be used for food use purposes. I would prefer to see all of these smashed (or at least replaced by Pyrex with new lead-free versions.)
Tamara
Hi Tamara – Your website and your research is very interesting and important. I am a Granny-aged lady (68) and, of course, have used the Lenox fine china, Tupperware, Corelle and the decorated Pyrex milk-glass mixing bowls and casserole dishes for years. They may well have contributed to the cognitive decline I am experiencing in my old age.
I have several nieces who have recently had babies, and I plan to share the links to your website with all of them.
Would it be correct for me to assume that my Pyrex mixing bowls in “Harvest Gold” and white, with flower decor on the outside of the bowls (purchased in around 1977) would have high levels of lead? Would the interior of the bowls which are the solid white milk-glass have high lead levels? What about vintage Corningware baking dishes and casserole containers? Thank ou very much!
Can’t forget how much leaded gas has exposed everyone to this bullshit. We even knew it was bad before we did that, so it’s kinda preposterous that these companies would use it and keep using it for so many years. It wasn’t even about our safety, they only changed because the government finally did something about it. Now basically everyone on the entire planet has some degree of mental degradation from lead. I don’t care what they declare is safe, lead is cumulative in the body and we have zero ways to remove it. Once it binds to our bones it’s there forever, therefore is no real safe amount. It’s crazy how long we used it, but it’s crazier we have yet to make a 100% no lead policy. For cryin out loud there’s an acceptable amount for our water and while tiny, we’re exposed to it every single day.
I am so sad. I have these exact bowls, and I have used them to feed my family for over ten years. My poor babies. And the crazy daisy coffee cups (my sister has from our grandmother). I have the tea cups. I really just feel like I have been kicked in the stomach right now. Thank you. I don’t mean that at you–its better to know than not know!
Where do we send items for your lead- museum? I have some orange & green Tupperware containers that I haven’t seen in your photos. Thanks!
Oh Thank you! Here’s my address:
Tamara Rubin
Lead Safe Mama, LLC
7933 SE 15th Avenue
Portland, OR 97202
Tamara
Is the lead only on the outside paint, or was the inside tested too?
Hi Marcy,
The plain milk glass of this is also positive for Lead, but at much lower levels. The levels are listed here. read down further in the post.
Tamara
Tamara,
I have these exact mixing bowls I have used for 45 years. We received 2 sets for our wedding.
What can be done?
Thank you for your work on finding the lead content
Deb
I have used vintage pyrex for years, just came upon your post….im currently livjng in Wa…please keep me updated.
Also, how do you test? Im interested in tested my vintage baking items.
Thanks
I have an enormous collection of Pyrex bowls and casseroles. I use them all the time. I have a lot of the “fridgies: and I use them for butter and jam, leftovers, and honey. I do not have any Spring blossom but I have many other patterns. Is there an article or information about all the other Patterns
and if they are dangerous too.
What is the best thing to do with these lead bowls. I have a set and loved them up until reading you article.
There are bowls that are part of this set that are white with green flowers. Have you tested those?
Yes – same results – anything with painted decorations is high Lead from the Vintage Pyrex pieces – this includes the clear glass measuring cups more than 10 years old (the newer ones have unsafe levels of Cadmium in the paint.)
Tamara
How do I get rid of my old dishes without putting lead back into the Environment.
Thanks,
Deanna Young
I use a set of the solid white cereal bowls. Do they have lead content?
Hello. You have some pictures of the white Corel with the curved black lines. When I click on the pictures it takes me to the green spring bowls. Is there a way you could provide me the info for the white with black lines. I actually have that set. Thank you!
https://tamararubin.com/2019/06/corelle-coordinates-white-stoneware-dish-with-black-stripe-design-92-ppm-lead-within-safe-range/