Panacea Products Corp "Florist Wire, Bright" Made in China: 307 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe for kids), 18% Zinc, 82% Iron.

When tested with an XRF instrument the florist wire pictured in this post (made by Panacea Products of Columbus Ohio and manufactured in China) had the following readings:

Reading one:

Lead (Pb): 149 +/- 68 ppm
Chromium (Cr): 382 +/- 86 ppm
Zinc (Zn): 182,000 +/- 2,300 ppm
Iron (Fe): 813,100 +/- 2,500 ppm
Manganese (Mn): 2,194 +/- 488 ppm

Reading two was negative for Lead:

Chromium (Cr): 290 +/- 83 ppm
Zinc (Zn): 176,300 +/- 2,400 ppm
Iron (Fe): 818,600 +/- 2,600 ppm
Manganese (Mn): 2,512 +/- 516 ppm

A third reading was positive for 307 +/- 88 ppm Lead.

These are the results of three separate 60 second readings. Multiple readings were done to confirm the levels. 50% of the readings were positive for very low levels of Lead and 50% were negative. Lead contamination at these levels (and sometimes much higher) is typical of products made with high levels of Zinc.

Takeaway:

I would choose not to let my children play with this for art projects, even though the level is very low and Lead was not present in every reading. We are still on the lookout for a completely Lead-free choice for wire for art projects with my children. Copper wire might be the best alternative. Wire coated with rubberized coating often has Lead in the rubber as well as possibly in the wire, so is not necessarily a better / safer choice.

Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.

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

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama