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). Tamara’s work was featured in Consumer Reports Magazine in February 2023 (March 2023 print edition).
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 related 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 my readers will be able to see all the pieces written for some of the more popular categories on the website, easily (at a glance). This is my first attempt at this, so feedback is welcome. Please let me know if these summary articles are helpful. Thank you!
And without further ado… all our articles discussing purses (each numbered line below is a link to a piece with photos and more information, including — in most articles — XRF test results for the item discussed):
Purses I have tested & reported on:
- The “Purse” category link
- 2001 Authentic Louis Vuitton Bag: 811 ppm Lead
- 2001 Authentic Louis Vuitton Bag: 223 ppm Lead
- 2001 Authentic Louis Vuitton Bag: 5,943 ppm Lead + 258 ppm Arsenic
- 2018 Purple Chinese Satin Zipper Pouch: Lead Free
- 2018 Purple Satin Reversible Sequin Mermaid Purse: Lead-Free
- c. 1960s Blue Vinyl Purse: 6,060 ppm Lead
- Authentic Louis Vuitton Bag: 5,109 ppm Lead & 666 ppm Mercury
- Longchamps Purse: Positive for Mercury and Lead
- Genuine Fossil Wallet: Lead-Free
As always, thank you for reading.
Thank you for being here, and thank you for sharing our articles!
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
I wonder how the in-betweend brands would test. Brands like Calvin Klein, Fossil, Kate Spade, Nine West, Guess, The Sak etc.
What about Aigner purses?
Hi there – thanks for commenting. I am not familiar with that brand.
Here’s how to send something in and participate in the testing reported here on the blog: https://tamararubin.com/2019/08/tamara-can-i-send-you-one-of-my-dishes-to-test-for-lead/
Tamara
Thanks for all this! I was hoping to find a plain zippered fanny pack type purse with at least 3 separate compartments, like a smallish outside one for keys etc. & an inside small one on the side for credit cards etc. Looks like it might have to be a sequined purse with no compartments. I tried otherwise searching for purses with lead free zippers with no luck. I found lots of fanny packs that would be ok but I suppose most zippers will contain lead.
Have you tested any brightly colored woven bags from mexico