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).
Please note: My children are teenagers/ young adults (with sensory issues). These are not safe for young children to play with (or other children who may accidentally ingest them).
Amazon affiliate link for this product: https://amzn.to/3k0a639
XRF test results for the Orbeez type toy pictured (Marvelbeads Orbeez Refill 38000 beads 16 oz). Test on the multi-colored patch of beads
120-second test
- Lead (Pb): non-detect
- Cadmium (Cd): non-detect
- Mercury (Hg): non-detect
- Bromine (Br): non-detect
- Chromium (Cr): non-detect
- Copper (Cu): 8 +/- 3 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 14 +/- 2 ppm
- Barium (Ba): 126 +/- 33 ppm
Some additional reading that might be of interest:
- This article discussing the testing methodology used on this website.
- A piece discussing how to send in an item for testing.
- Things that you can test at home.
- Things that might be better tested with an XRF instrument.
Thanks for reading. Thank you for sharing our articles. As always, please let me know if you have any questions and I will do my best to answer them personally as soon as I have a moment (which may not be right away — but I will try!).
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links I may receive a percentage of what you spend – at no extra cost to you.
Shouldn’t this post be updated concerning the hazards surrounding these types of water beads such as choking and, just as bad, swallowing dry ones and having them expand inside a child’s tiny digestive system? More and more children are being hospitalized from these. I realize your website concerns lead and other contaminants, but IMHO these should not be promoted as a “safe” toy. They are pretty and interesting, to be sure, but I wish they had never been marketed and sold. Even some older children have a tendency to put things like these and other things (e.g., marbles) in their mouths, not understanding the potential dangers. The fact that water beads look like candy doesn’t help. :,(
My apologies. I just saw your note in red print about your kids being teenagers. Can you put that note first and in a larger or thicker font for others to see more quickly? Way too many people, including well-meaning relatives, buy these for young children in the family! Thank you!