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).
Published: April 26, 2020
Updated: June 30, 2020
Introduction
For each article I write, there are category keyword tabs at the top of the page. Each of those words is a link to the category, and you can get to that category overview (to see all of the articles in that category) anytime, by clicking on any of those words. I am working on writing summary pieces for each category (like this one), so readers will be able to see all our available articles for some of the more popular categories on LeadSafeMama.com, easily (at a glance). This is my first attempt at this, so feedback is welcome. Please let me know if these summary pieces are helpful. Thank you!
And without further ado… all Leaded Crystal related articles (each numbered line below is a link to an article with photos and more information, including — in most pieces — XRF test results for the item discussed):
“Leaded Crystal” related items that I have tested & reported on:
- To start, here’s the whole category of “Leaded Crystal” articles. I will update this piece shortly with additional links and subcategories.
- Vintage blue crystal clip-on earring: 152,300 ppm Lead
- Vintage (1970s/ 1980s) clear crystal heart: 557,800 ppm Lead
- Cut crystal vintage salt shaker: 15,200 ppm Lead
- Cut crystal bud vase: 386,000 ppm Lead
- c. 2014 crystal bracelet: 70.700 ppm Lead
- c. 2010 pink crystal Minnie Mouse bracelet purchased at Disneyland: 252,200 ppm Lead
- Crystal double rainbow rainbow maker mobile
- Cut crystal goblet shot glass (vintage)
- Child’s crystal necklace
- 1992 Study: Potential Lead exposures from Lead crystal decanters
- Leaded crystal decanter
- An overview about concerns for Leaded crystal
- 2013 Riedel Wine Goblet: 300,000 ppm Lead
- Leaded crystal candle sticks
- Green tinted crystal rainbow maker
- Lead-free decorative hanging crystal
- Amber crystal costume jewelry earring
- Blue crystal earring
- Vintage crystal bracelet
- Stay tuned for more!
As always, thank you for reading.
Thank you for being here, and thank you for sharing this work!
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
Tamara, it would be great if you could test the various colors of Swarovski crystals as they are the most used in jewelry. You could probably get an assortment package with lots of colors in a craft shop.
Thanks Valerie!
The way things work is that my readers dictate my testing by sending me things to test and chipping in to cover the cost of the testing. Here’s a post with more details: https://tamararubin.com/2019/08/tamara-can-i-send-you-one-of-my-dishes-to-test-for-lead/
The issue with those crystals is that I would need to receive them in the original packaging as they are not visibly marked (to my knowledge) to determine the year made or manufacturer.
Thanks for commenting!
Tamara
For most of my life my mother drank water out of a crystal glass. She didn’t do so all the time but I would say it was fairly frequent. She owned a lot of crystal items but she never used anything except one particular tumbler glass of a set of 2.
She passed away at 74, 6-mos after a diagnosis of cancer that started in her biliary system and (I think) spread to her liver and pancreas. I think the crystal glass contributed to her cancer. Maybe it didn’t outright kill her but I would bet it contributed. Before the cancer she had hypertension and kidney problems. I blame the crystal for that too. She was never overweight and ate a balanced diet. She walked thousands of steps every day because she was active and hard working. If it weren’t for the crystal I would bet she had a good couple of decades or more left of life.
I feel sad for my mother because I know she thought the crystal was pretty and liked to own fine and beautiful things. She felt special drinking out of her fancy sparkly glass. I wish there was way more awareness about the dangers of using leaded crystal back during in her adulthood. If she had known about it she would’ve avoided it, just like she avoided other dangerous things like smoking and alcohol.
Thank you for commenting Mary! – Thank you for sharing your story. I’m sorry about what happened to your mom – I have a similar story with my mom – died of cancer far too young.
Here’s a post about a boy who was poisoned by his crystal glass:
https://tamararubin.com/2019/12/this-crystal-juice-glass-was-likely-the-source-of-a-boys-mysterious-lead-poisoning-the-glass-is-351400-ppm-lead-90ppm-is-illegal-in-kids-items/
Here’s a post that discusses symptoms in adults:
https://tamararubin.com/2017/01/what-is-the-impact-of-lead-poisoning-in-adults-including-college-age-students/
Tamara
Thank you so much for everything you do to educate the public about the dangers of lead hidden in everyday things. I am sorry you lost your mamma too soon.
I have some Noritake crystal iced tea glasses in a pattern called Troy. These were purchased around 1998 or so. Are these likely to contain lead?
If they are actually crystal – then yes – they are likely high Lead – in the 200,000 to 400,000 ppm Range.
Please read this overview post about the concern:
https://tamararubin.com/topics/crystal/
And please read this post as well for context:
https://tamararubin.com/2019/12/this-crystal-juice-glass-was-likely-the-source-of-a-boys-mysterious-lead-poisoning-the-glass-is-351400-ppm-lead-90ppm-is-illegal-in-kids-items/
Tamara
I have crystal that was left to me by my parents. I don’t know why I even have it. It’s just sitting in a cabinet. Any suggestions as to how to go about disposing of it safely? I have a newborn to worry about and I know it makes lead dust. I also can’t find any information on the internet about where to bring all of this stuff. Maybe there is no safe disposal so just junk it? Seems wrong. I also have the Christmas Pyrex which thankfully hasn’t really been used since I was a child, but what is one to do with this stuff??