Introduction (for those new to this website):
Tamara Rubin is a federal-award-winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children, her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005. Since 2009 Tamara has been using XRF testing (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.
There’s a recent TikTok video circulating all over the internet about Pyrex glassware and the differences between glassware with the “PYREX” all-caps logo vs. glassware with the “pyrex” all-lowercase logo. This video has been shared with me by dozens of Lead Safe Mama readers… so I made one in response:
I didn’t see the TikTok video but this is very clear.
And congratulations on having your work highlighted in Consumer Reports. I’ve seen some people here disparaging main stream media but I think getting some impressive nods from the people also doing good work at CR will get the word out to a broader audience.
I am unable to view the Pyrex video.
I do not use a tik token app. Is that why I can’t view it?
I hate auto correct……
I just fixed it! Try again. Thank you.
The Lead Safe Mama website says, “Video currently unavailable.”
I went on TikTok to find it, but I didn’t see it there.
Can you post it on your website for people to see it, please? (re: PYREX vs pyrex)
Hi there! I just fixed it. Please try again! Thanks.
Great video!
Oops, I tossed out my uppercase PYREX clear glass pie plates a while back. They didn’t have a painted logo, it was etched in, but I assumed vintage meant it was possibly toxic. I had that casserole dish, I am glad I got rid of that too.. better safe than sorry! Thanks for the info!
If the paint is on then outside of PYREX measuring cup is that toxic?
yes – please read this: https://tamararubin.com/2020/07/if-the-lead-is-only-on-the-outside-of-my-dish-measuring-cup-mixing-bowl-etc-why-does-it-matter-that-it-has-lead/
So what measuring cup do you recommend?
There are several suggestions on my shopping website: http://www.ShopLeadSafeMama.com
I have my eye on a Pyrex cranberry mixing bowl set. I believe it’s from the 80s or 90s. It is translucent glass with a purplish tint and has no painted markings. They look similar to a blue Pyrex custard dish that you said was safe. What do you think? Are the mixing bowls worth it?
How can you tell if the clear Pyrex has high levels of arsenic?
I think it is age-related factor – probably a consideration for items that are older than 40 years old. They are not clearly marked with age-indicating identifiers though – so I truly don’t know how an end-consumer would know (unless you could extrapolate the age because you knew they belonged to your grandmother or something along those lines.)
T
Hi Tamara,
I read other post and found out yoda decorated Pyrex glassware contains no lead. I am curious about if other decorated Pyrex glasswares, such as Mickey and friends in the affiliate link on Amazon (https://a.co/d/gkYwZCL ) also lead-free.
I just a few weeks ago, bought new clear glass Pyrex baking dishes, they have no paint or anything, just clear. Would you use these or should I try to return them? I thought I was making a good choice leaving nonstick and going to glass and now I’m not sure what to do.
Those should be free of toxicants (Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Arsenic and Antimony!)
Are the clear glass PYREX baking pans also considered safe?
What about Pyrex with blue tint? I can’t tell if the ones in Amazon store are the blue tint or not.
Hi!
Do you have a list of products and items that have lead in them?
I am wondering about the white Pyrex plates and bowls. I don’t know if they are painted or not. What about milk glass? It would be so wonderful if we could search items on your site to see if you’ve tested them! Thank you
There’s a search bar at the top of every page of the site (just put in one or two or three key words – like “milk glass” or “pyrex bowl”). You can also click the website menu button and take a look at the quick buttons for categories of articles noted in the website menu.
Would love to know what kind of cookware and serving-ware do you use in your home?
I don’t use teflon-coated pieces, don’t use plastic, don’t use aluminum nor tin.
I do use cast iron, and vintage Pyrex, and vintage Corning.
Note: Both Pyrex and Corning have had to change the formula for their products several times over the years due to changing regulations.
Considering the fact that millions of people around the world used vintage Pyrex and Corning for decades, and everyone survived just fine, including during a time when scholastic scores were much higher in the U.S. than they are today, I don’t see the rush to throw everything into the trash.
Note: There was a time, years, when I worked with leaded glass (not copper foil) extensively, every day. I would periodically get my blood tested for lead … tests always came back with no lead issue. So there is a difference between the amount of lead in a product, and the amount of lead absorbed and flowing in the bloodstream.
So maybe instead of testing products, and scaring everyone with your results, it might be more accurate, and a greater service to everyone, if you tested blood samples for lead, cadmium, etc., in people who use vintage pyrex daily to find out and verify if toxic levels are being absorbed into their blood/body.
Just sayin’
Read this – about turning out fine
https://tamararubin.com/2015/02/fine/
Read this – about being poisoend by consumer goods
https://tamararubin.com/2021/06/but-is-this-dish-or-toy-or-lamp-or-vitamin-or-piece-of-jewelry-or-tibetan-brass-singing-bowl-actually-going-to-poison-me-and-how-would-that-happen-exactly/
Read this – about low level lead exposure and the impacts on children
https://tamararubin.com/2017/01/toxic_lead/
Read and watch this – a tour of my kitchen
https://tamararubin.com/2022/03/join-me-for-a-tour-of-my-kitchen-and-check-out-all-the-lead-free-things-i-have-there/
Read this – about fear mongering:
https://tamararubin.com/2020/05/i-dont-do-what-i-do-to-spread-fear-i-do-what-i-do-to-educate-so-you-can-make-informed-choices-for-your-family/
Read this – about worrying:
https://tamararubin.com/2021/07/im-concerned-that-my-child-may-have-just-inhaled-potentially-leaded-fireworks-fumes-what-should-i-do/
Read this about cumulative exposure from dietary sources:
https://tamararubin.com/2023/03/ive-been-helping-a-mama-whose-doctor-had-unknowingly-put-her-on-a-high-lead-diet-that-poisoned-both-her-her-breast-fed-baby/
Read this about blood lead testing and urine testing:
https://tamararubin.com/2020/05/i-heard-that-urine-and-hair-tests-for-heavy-metals-including-lead-were-not-real-or-useful-test-results-why-is-this/
Read this – about blood lead testing:
https://tamararubin.com/2024/06/when-should-babies-be-tested-for-lead-how-often-should-babies-be-tested-for-lead/
Check out this video about my lead test results (and other links on this page):
https://tamararubin.com/2022/10/dr-john-salerno-tamara-len-rubin-discuss-tamaras-heavy-metal-test-results-audio-recording/
Watch this – a link to my documentary feature film
https://tamararubin.com/2023/01/a-link-to-my-film/
I am sorry you are frightened by the science we share here. Hopefully the above will give you some better context for this work.