When tested with an XRF Instrument this sewing / cutting / measuring guide (which belonged to a friend of mine who is a quilter) turned out to be painted with Lead paint in all of the markings on the guide.
This sewing tool had the following specific XRF readings
- Lead (Pb): 3,010 +/- 93 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): 28 +/- 6 ppm
- Chromium (Cr): 5,410 +/- 261 ppm
- Silver (Ag): 13 +/- 4 ppm
- Palladium (Pd): 10 +/- 3 ppm
- Platinum (Pt): 156 +/- 50 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 961 +/- 58 ppm
- Indium (In): 41 +/- 8 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 1,321 +/- 150 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 11,700 +/- 500 ppm
The above test results are from a reading done on the side with the paint accessible (the yellow side). “For fun” I also tested this item on the other side (with the black of the writing visible) to see how diluted the reading would be if this Leaded paint were tested through the approximately 1/8 inch of clear plastic of the item. This is reminiscent of the way that an XRF can still read through vinyl siding on a house to the original Lead painted siding underneath – and I expect the relative differential in test results with siding (compared to the reading of what the original lead painted siding might be) is similar to this (an educated guess given most homeowners don’t want someone who is testing their home to remove their vinyl siding to test underneath to get a better reading!)
Continue reading below the image.
This is the “diluted” reading set – through the plastic:
- Lead (Pb): 699 +/- 21 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): 31 +/- 3 ppm
- Antimony (Sb): 18 +/- 7 ppm
- Silver (Ag): 15 +/- 2 ppm
- Palladium (Pd): 12 +/- 2 ppm
- Platinum (Pt): 59 +/- 21 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 57 +/- 10 ppm
- Indium (In): 41 +/- 5 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 55 +/- 25 ppm
Some additional reading that may be of interest:
- More sewing tools I have tested and reported on.
- More plastic items I have tested.
- My post discussing the testing methodology I use for the results I report on this blog.
As always, thank you for reading and for sharing my posts. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
I have a Creative Grids plastic quilting ruler and an Olfa cutting mat. Both of these have painted lines and numbers. I’ll make an educated guess these also have lead in the paint. Any suggestions on how to quilt without lead exposure?
I would love more info on quilting products and what the safest choices/options are. Thank you.
I too would like quilting products tested. I need a new ruler! I am happy to send a cracked one of mine.