1970s

Denby Verona Tabletop Designs 1975, Made in England: As high as 1,076 ppm Lead on the food surface

Denby Verona Tabletop Designs 1975, Made in England: As high as 1,076 ppm Lead on the food surface

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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…

Denby Floral Pattern Fine China Tabletop Designs 1974, Made in Portugal: as high as 24,500 ppm Lead on the food surface

Denby Floral Pattern Fine China Tabletop Designs 1974, Made in Portugal: as high as 24,500 ppm Lead on the food surface

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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)…

Royal Doulton Cinnamon Pattern Lambeth Stoneware – Made in England: 65,500 ppm Lead (90 ppm & up is considered unsafe in modern children’s items.)

Royal Doulton Cinnamon Pattern Lambeth Stoneware – Made in England: 65,500 ppm Lead (90 ppm & up is considered unsafe in modern children’s items.)

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Introduction: Tamara Rubin is a Federal award winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety and childhood Lead poisoning prevention. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009, and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. She uses XRF testing (a scientific…

This 1976 Bunnykins baby plate contains 77,900 ppm Lead. This would be highly illegal if made for use by kids today.

This 1976 Bunnykins baby plate contains 77,900 ppm Lead. This would be highly illegal if made for use by kids today.

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Test results published on July 13, 2020 Updated: September 2022 Test result set #1) On the center of the plate’s food surface (decorative design): Lead (Pb): 77,900 +/- 3,600 ppm Barium (Ba): 306 +/- 98 ppm Chromium (Cr): 1,977 +/- 202 ppm Antimony (Sb): 72 +/- 36 ppm Silver (Ag): 30 +/- 12 ppm Tin (Sn):…

1976 Bunnykins bowl: 59,000 ppm Lead (anything above 90 ppm Lead is illegal in items made today for children’s use)

1976 Bunnykins bowl: 59,000 ppm Lead (anything above 90 ppm Lead is illegal in items made today for children’s use)

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Test Results Published on July 13, 2020 Updated: September 2022 When tested with an XRF instrument, the 1976 Bunnykins bowl pictured here had the following readings: On the center of the bowl’s food surface (decorative design): Lead (Pb): 59,000 +/- 2,400 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 36 +/- 14 ppm Chromium (Cr): 475 +/- 126 ppm Tin…

This 1976 Bunnykins baby cup tested positive for 40,200 ppm Lead on food surface. This would be illegal if made for use by kids today.

This 1976 Bunnykins baby cup tested positive for 40,200 ppm Lead on food surface. This would be illegal if made for use by kids today.

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When tested with an XRF instrument, the 1976 Bunnykins baby cup pictured here had the following readings: On the decorative design of the cup: Lead (Pb): 46,200 +/- 1,800 ppm Barium (Ba): 179 +/- 74 ppm  Chromium (Cr): 410 +/- 116 ppm Antimony (Sb): 61 +/- 28 ppm Tin (Sn): 137 +/- 28 ppm Zinc…

1977 Walt Disney Winnie The Pooh & Tigger Too – read along book: 17 ppm Lead (safe by all standards.)

1977 Walt Disney Winnie The Pooh & Tigger Too – read along book: 17 ppm Lead (safe by all standards.)

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Posted: Sunday, March 22, 2020 Introduction: Tamara Rubin is an independent advocate for consumer goods safety, and she is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009 and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. She uses high-precision XRF testing (a…

1977 Walt Disney Winnie The Pooh & Tigger Too – read along tape: 495 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe), 35 ppm Arsenic.

1977 Walt Disney Winnie The Pooh & Tigger Too – read along tape: 495 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe), 35 ppm Arsenic.

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Posted: Sunday, March 22, 2020 Introduction: Tamara Rubin is an independent advocate for consumer goods safety, and she is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009 and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. She uses high-precision XRF testing (a…

Haviland Chippendale bowl (Germany, c. 1960-70): 4,608 ppm Lead + 529 Arsenic. What style china do you have?

Haviland Chippendale bowl (Germany, c. 1960-70): 4,608 ppm Lead + 529 Arsenic. What style china do you have?

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Posted: Tuesday, March 17, 2020 Introduction: Tamara Rubin is an independent advocate for consumer goods safety, and she is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009 and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. She uses high-precision XRF testing (a…

Vintage (1972-1988) Corning Spice-o-Life Casserole: 26,500 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe) & 236 ppm Cd (75 is unsafe)

Vintage (1972-1988) Corning Spice-o-Life Casserole: 26,500 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe) & 236 ppm Cd (75 is unsafe)

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  For those new to the Lead Safe Mama 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 four sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama,…

Textbook corporate response from Corning 12/28/18 – to the findings of high levels of Lead in their vintage products.

Textbook corporate response from Corning 12/28/18 – to the findings of high levels of Lead in their vintage products.

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Originally published: December 28, 2018, 4:34 p.m. Format refreshed: Dec 28, 2019 In response to my original post referenced in the title above [Link HERE] today, Corningware shared the following response (when Sabrina – a friend of a friend on Facebook – shared the post and tagged them): “We appreciate you [sic] concern for our products,…

c. 1970 Trenkle Alarm Clock (West Germany) – components as high as 22,400 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe for kids.]

c. 1970 Trenkle Alarm Clock (West Germany) – components as high as 22,400 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe for kids.]

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When tested with an XRF instrument this vintage (c. 1965-1975) Trenkle Alarm Clock (made in West Germany) had the following readings (note: only accessible components were tested): 1.) Glass / plastic of clock face: Lead (Pb): Negative / Non-Detect Mercury (Hg): Negative / Non-Detect Cadmium (Cd): 60 +/- 8 ppm Arsenic (As): Negative / Non-Detect…

Original vinyl bench for 1975 Hammond organ: 4,138 ppm Lead, 370 Arsenic, 21 Cadmium + 835 Antimony!

Original vinyl bench for 1975 Hammond organ: 4,138 ppm Lead, 370 Arsenic, 21 Cadmium + 835 Antimony!

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When tested with an XRF instrument the vinyl covered bench for this 1975 Hammond organ had the following readings: Brown vinyl seat of organ bench: Lead (Pb): 4,138 +/- 113 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 21 +/- 8 ppm Arsenic (As): 370 +/- 102 ppm Barium (Ba): 15,600 +/- 300 ppm Chromium (Cr): 1,117 +/- 212 Antimony…

Keyboard for 1975 Hammond organ: 73 ppm Lead + 186 Cadmium (& why I make an “exception” for instruments.)

Keyboard for 1975 Hammond organ: 73 ppm Lead + 186 Cadmium (& why I make an “exception” for instruments.)

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When tested with an XRF instrument, the plastic keys of this 1975 Hammond organ keyboard (with the full organ pictured below) had the following readings: White Keys of Organ Keyboard Lead (Pb): 73 +/- 7 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 186 +/- 10 ppm Barium (Ba): 387 +/- 77 ppm Zinc (Zn): 249 +/- 14 ppm Iron…

Portmeirion “The Botanic Garden Circa 1818” Coffee Mug, 1972: 49,700 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe) + Cadmium too.

Portmeirion “The Botanic Garden Circa 1818” Coffee Mug, 1972: 49,700 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe) + Cadmium too.

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I do not know the exact year of manufacture of this piece, however the markings indicated it was made in 1972 or later. It is a Portmeirion piece from the collection marked as “The Botanic Garden Circa 1818” and it also has the date “1972” on the bottom as well as the words “Susan Williams-Ellis”,…

1960s Purple Enamelware Ashtray: 601,600 ppm Lead [more than 60%!] + 11,100 ppm Cadmium [This was my mother’s].

1960s Purple Enamelware Ashtray: 601,600 ppm Lead [more than 60%!] + 11,100 ppm Cadmium [This was my mother’s].

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This is just ONE reason that I don’t like enamelware. I have enormous sentimental attachment to this particular piece because it reminds me both of my mother and my childhood. It reminds me of all the craft fairs that we used to go to when I was young (where we would sell my mother’s pottery)…

Vintage (1978-1988) yellow Lego® guy w red hat: 5,096 ppm Cadmium [≥40 is unsafe] & 26 ppm Arsenic

Vintage (1978-1988) yellow Lego® guy w red hat: 5,096 ppm Cadmium [≥40 is unsafe] & 26 ppm Arsenic

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Click here to read my recent post that fully discusses the concern for Cadmium found in vintage (1970s-1980s) Legos®. Below is the full XRF reading set for the vintage yellow Lego® head with red hat pictured here [test results are replicable, and were done for a minimum of three minutes – 180 seconds, for the…

Vintage (1978-1988) Red & Yellow Lego® door: 10,300 ppm Cadmium [≥40 is unsafe] & 38 ppm Arsenic

Vintage (1978-1988) Red & Yellow Lego® door: 10,300 ppm Cadmium [≥40 is unsafe] & 38 ppm Arsenic

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Click here to read my recent post that fully discusses the concern for Cadmium found in vintage (1970s-1980s) Legos®. Below is the full XRF reading set for the vintage red and yellow Lego® door pictured here [test results are replicable, and were done for a minimum of three minutes – 180 seconds, for the greatest…

Vintage (1978-1988) Red Lego® 4 x 12 panel: 7,659 ppm Cadmium (40 is unsafe) + 39 ppm Arsenic

Vintage (1978-1988) Red Lego® 4 x 12 panel: 7,659 ppm Cadmium (40 is unsafe) + 39 ppm Arsenic

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Click here to read my recent post that fully discusses the concern for Cadmium found in vintage (1970s-1980s) Legos. Below is the full XRF reading set for the vintage red 4 x 12 Lego® block / panel pictured here (tests are replicable and were done for a minimum of three minutes – 180 seconds): Lead…

Happy Toxic Easter? Yikes!! 1977 Avon Easter Perfume pin: 6,759 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) + 6,018 Cadmium (75 is unsafe)

Happy Toxic Easter? Yikes!! 1977 Avon Easter Perfume pin: 6,759 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) + 6,018 Cadmium (75 is unsafe)

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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…

Don’t let kids play with vintage jewelry. 1973 Avon Fragrance Glacé Pin: 1,296 ppm Cadmium (a known carcinogen.)

Don’t let kids play with vintage jewelry. 1973 Avon Fragrance Glacé Pin: 1,296 ppm Cadmium (a known carcinogen.)

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Modern consumer goods are considered unsafe an illegal in the country of Denmark if they have Cadmium levels at 75 ppm and higher. In Washington State the hazard level for total Cadmium content is 40 ppm or higher. There is no United States federal hazard level for total Cadmium content as detectable with an XRF instrument….

Don’t let kids play with vintage jewelry. 1971 Avon Fragrance Glacé Pin: 3,587 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe] + 275 Arsenic.

Don’t let kids play with vintage jewelry. 1971 Avon Fragrance Glacé Pin: 3,587 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe] + 275 Arsenic.

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The amount of Lead that is considered toxic in a newly manufactured item intended for use by children today is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint or coating, or anything 100 ppm Lead or higher in the substrate. Vintage items (especially vintage plastic items and vintage jewelry – and costume jewelry in general)…

Don’t let kids play with vintage Avon pieces. This 1973 Elephant Perfume Pin contains 31,300 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) and 492 Arsenic.

Don’t let kids play with vintage Avon pieces. This 1973 Elephant Perfume Pin contains 31,300 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) and 492 Arsenic.

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  For those new to the Lead Safe Mama 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 four sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama,…

Campbell’s Soups Salute America 1976 Ceramic Mug: 65,300 ppm Lead + 882 ppm Cadmium [mm ‘Lead is good food!’ NOT]

Campbell’s Soups Salute America 1976 Ceramic Mug: 65,300 ppm Lead + 882 ppm Cadmium [mm ‘Lead is good food!’ NOT]

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When tested with an XRF instrument the vintage ceramic mug pictured here (Campbell’s Soups Salute America”  – Made in Brazil) tested positive for the following metals when tested with an XRF instrument: White undecorated elements of mug (including inside of mug): Lead (Pb): 21,600 +/- 700 ppm Zinc (Zn): 11, 100 +/- 400 ppm Copper…