2014 Stuffed Bunny Easter toy by Inter-American Products: 128 ppm Antimony (causes cancer in rats)

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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).

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Published: Tuesday, April 21, 2020

When tested with a high-precision XRF instrument (specifically designed for testing consumer goods for heavy metals), the stuffed bunny pictured here (purchased in 2014, I believe, at a Walgreens) had the readings listed below. Antimony is a heavy metal often found as a component in flame-retardants; however, when it is an intentional addition in flame-retardants, the levels found are usually much higher than what was found in this bunny (generally in the 1,000 to 3,000 ppm range — like with this mattress).

How much Antimony is “too much” Antimony?

The “International Antimony Association” assures consumers (in their public statements) that the low levels of Antimony I am consistently finding in most conventional plastic food packing (for example plastic peanut butter jars) and in most conventional (non-organic) stuffed animals and beddings made with synthetic fabrics (mattresses, pillows, sheets, blankets, pajamas, etc.) is completely safe. However, Antimony exposure has been definitively shown to have a causal linked to cancer in rats. Studies of persistent/ chronic low-level Antimony exposure in humans have also demonstrated correlative (and potentially causal) breathing complications and other issues. Many other significant human health impacts have been observed when looking at levels typical of industrial exposures to Antimony (for those who work with Antimony or Antimony containing products). It has been, in large part, due to the potential health impacts of toxicants used in flame-retardants (including Antimony) that environmental activists have seen significant success in getting flame-retardants removed from many home goods in markets across the country. YET trace levels of Antimony are still found consistently across the board in fabrics and fillings that have not been treated with flame retardants.

But really, is this an issue for me?

I have been doing home visits with families across the country for more than a decade now. In the past 4 years more and more families will have urine panels, blood tests, or hair tests done before my visits. In the test results that show full heavy metal panels, I am OFTEN seeing elevated levels of Antimony, with some being “off the charts” — literally (the line extends as far as it can go with the limitations of the heavy metal graphs). Said another way, children across America are testing positive for Antimony in their blood, urine, and hair. These children have not had “industrial exposures.” These children do not have parents who work in a related industry. These are typical American children. Where is the Antimony coming from then? Their stuffed animals, bedding, mattresses, couches, their jammies, and their peanut butter jars. One source of incidental exposure MAY be fine but kids today are being bombarded with Antimony (albeit at low levels) from every source imaginable. These trace levels add up in the body, especially when there are sources that are in regular contact with a child’s food, their mouth (like a stuffed animal they might suck or nibble on), or naked body (like pajamas).

What should I do with this information?

It is for the reasons noted above that I discourage letting young children (or any children for that matter) sleep with conventional “stuffies” — especially ones with poly-fil, which may be higher in Antimony (generally in the 150 to 300 ppm range). If you know your child will be sleeping with (or sucking on, or snuggling with) a stuffed animal or other type of stuffed toy or blankie, please do your best to guide them in their choice of a favorite snuggly (preferably guiding them to a choice made of organic cotton, wool, or other similar natural fibers, and preferably dyed with natural [vegetable-based] dyes, as well).

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Full XRF Test Results for the Bunny Pictured

White of Belly — 120-second test:

• Antimony (Sb): 106 +/- 32 ppm
• Bromine (Br): 47 +/- 8 ppm
• Selenium (Se): 36 +’- 11 ppm
• Copper (Cu): 98 +/- 28 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 285 +/- 88 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 29,900 +/- 700 ppm
• Chlorine (Cl): 666 +/- 392 ppm

Pink of Nose — 60-second test:

• Antimony (Sb): 128 +/- 53 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 240 +/- 80 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 3,304 +/- 134 ppm
• Chlorine (Cl): 550 +/- 301 ppm

Pink of Ears — 60-second test:

• Antimony (Sb): 123 +/- 59 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 3,107 +/- 163 ppm

Plastic Eyeballs — 60-second test:

• Titanium (Ti): 31 +/- 15 ppm

Pink Bow — 60-second test:

• Iron (Fe): 126 +/- 50 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 48 +/- 29 ppm
• Chlorine (Cl): 420 +/- 265 ppm

Some additional reading that may interest those reading:

• How Lead Safe Mama performs the testing we conduct and report on here on the website.
• Some bedding that tested positive for Antimony.
• My “Chip-in” link if you would like to support the work here on LeadSafeMama.com.
• Here’s how to participate in the testing we do.

As always, thank you for reading and sharing this work.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama