1990s

1988/89 (?) Pterodactyl Welch’s Jelly jar (purple & white): 103,600 ppm LEAD & 2,706 ppm Cadmium (a known carcinogen)

July 19, 2022April 25, 2024

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,…

1988 (?) Tyrannosaurus Rex Welch’s Jelly jar (orange & white): 123,600 ppm LEAD — LEAD PAINT on a JELLY JAR (again!)

July 19, 2022April 25, 2024

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,…

1990 Tom & Jerry Welch’s Jelly jar (Jerry on a white kite): 123,500 ppm LEAD — LEAD PAINT on a JELLY JAR from 1990!

July 12, 2022April 25, 2024

2 Comments

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,…

Franklin Mint Heirloom Collection dish warns “Not to be used for food consumption. Pigments used for color may be toxic.”

March 20, 2020March 20, 2020

3 Comments

Posted: Friday, March 20, 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…

Sanyo Saucer, Japan – c. 1993. Lead-free food surface – common with china made in Japan for the Japanese market.

March 20, 2020March 20, 2020

1 Comment

Posted: Friday, March 20, 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 (1990s?) TYCO plastic building blocks (Duplo-style): Lead-free, Cadmium-free, Arsenic-free!

February 23, 2020February 23, 2020

Green TYCO building block – 30 seconds Copper (Cu): 150 +/- 15 ppm Nickel (Ni): 13 +/- 8 ppm Iron (Fe): 55 +/- 20 ppm Titanium (Ti): 2,167 +/- 295 ppm Continue reading below the image. Red TYCO building block – 30 seconds Barium (Ba): 189 +/- 108 ppm Bromine (Br): 19 +/- 3 ppm Iron…

Blue vintage (1990s?) Duplo building block – by Lego: Lead-free, Cadmium-free, Arsenic-free, Mercury-free!

February 23, 2020

2 Comments

Blue Block – 30 second reading Barium (Ba): 198 +/- 108 ppm Copper (Cu): 538 +/- 28 ppm Iron (Fe): 38 +/- 24 ppm Titanium (Ti): 8,650 +/- 480 ppm This piece is discussed in detail on this video – link here. I will update this post shortly, but just wanted to start by making sure the XRF readings were…

Vintage (1990s?) AAA rubber toy blue whale (made in China): Lead-free, Antimony-free, Cadmium-free, Arsenic-free & Mercury-free!

February 23, 2020February 23, 2020

1 Comment

Whale – 60 second test Barium (Ba): 492 +/- 56 ppm Br (Bromine): 22 +/- 5 pm Zinc (Zn): 304 +/- 33 ppm Iron (Fe): 210 +/- 68 ppm Titanium (Ti): 15,100 +/- 1,800 ppm This piece is discussed in detail on this video – link here. I will update this post shortly, but just…

Pyrex® Glass Measuring cup (c. 1994): 6,253 ppm Lead in red Outside Markings (90 ppm is unsafe for kids)

December 28, 2019March 30, 2024

12 Comments

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…

Another reason to avoid vintage toys — toy triceratops: 6,298 ppm Lead. This would be illegal if made today.

August 30, 2019July 13, 2023

3 Comments

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)…

1995 Franciscan Desert Rose China, Made in England: 47,800 ppm Lead on the food surface! 90 is unsafe for a child.

July 25, 2019October 23, 2021

15 Comments

When this Franciscan Desert Rose Pattern China (Made in the England by Johnson Brothers in 1995) was tested with an XRF instrument it came in at 47,800 +/- 1,400 ppm lead. It is negative for Cd (cadmium), As (arsenic) and Hg (mercury), however that is one heck of a lot of lead to be found…

KitchenAid is developing a bit of a reputation – Vintage (1990s?) Superba Fridge: 1,646 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe.]

June 14, 2019December 9, 2022

16 Comments

Published: June 14, 2019 I think this is one of my most disturbing recent finds… For context, today (in 2019) the amount of Lead (as detectable with an XRF instrument) that is considered unsafe in items made for use by children is 90 ppm Lead (or higher) in the surface paint, finish or coating or…

1990 Mirage Studios Playmates Toys Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Figurine: Lead Free, Cadmium Free, Arsenic Free!

May 28, 2019

Every single color of this little Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figurine was tested and not one of them was positive for anything bad (from the standpoint of XRF detectable metals discoverable in consumer goods mode). This figurine from 1990 was negative / non-detect for the following metals when tested with an XRF instrument: Cadmium Lead…

c. 1980-1990 Corelle Fruit Pattern Plate: 14,900 ppm Lead & 327 ppm Cadmium (90 ppm Pb is unsafe)

May 18, 2019July 17, 2023

46 Comments

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)…

Larami Toys brachiosaurus toy dinosaur: 2,213 ppm Lead, 2,721 ppm Antimony. This toy would be illegal if made today.

April 18, 2019April 18, 2019

1 Comment

Scroll down to see additional images, including picture of Dino next to Lego-guy for size! The amount of Lead that is considered unsafe and illegal in a modern item manufactured for use by children today is anything 90 ppm or higher in the paint or coating or anything 100 ppm or higher in the substrate….

1997 “Vintage” Campbell’s Soup Ceramic Mug: 11,400 ppm Lead + 1,251 ppm Cadmium [M’m! M’m! Good! NOT!]

March 14, 2019August 14, 2019

13 Comments

When tested with an XRF instrument the vintage (vintage is 20+ years officially, so yes – 1997 is vintage!) ceramic mug pictured here tested positive for the following metals when tested with an XRF instrument: White undecorated elements of mug (including inside of mug): Barium (Ba): 2,405 +/- 276 ppm Tin (Sn): 3,843 +/- 303…

c. 1996 Mickey Mouse McDonald’s Disney World 25th Anniversary Glass: 73,300 ppm Lead + 1,855 ppm Cadmium

March 8, 2019October 9, 2023

21 Comments

Remember the Magic … with a dash of LEAD! (And Cadmium for good measure.) 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…

99 Cent Only Store c. 1999 Floral Pattern Ceramic Plate (No Maker’s Mark): 49,400 +/- 1,400 ppm Lead.

February 10, 2019

There is no mark or maker noted on this plate. The owner told me she purchased at a 99 Cent Only Store (in Los Angeles) store about 20 years ago (which would be late-1990s / c. 1999). When tested with an XRF instrument it had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 49,400 +/- 1,400 ppm…

99 Cent Only Store c. 1999 Blue & White Floral Pattern Ceramic Bowl (No Maker’s Mark): 70,200 +/- 2,400 ppm Lead

February 10, 2019February 10, 2019

There is no mark or maker noted on this bowl. The owner told me she purchased at a 99 Cent Only Store (in Los Angeles) store about 20 years ago (which would be late-1990s / c. 1999). When tested with an XRF instrument it had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 70,200 +/- 2,400 ppm Barium…

Corningware (c. 1985-1990) Pastel Bouquet Pattern Casserole: 20,400 ppm Lead + 205 Cadmium [90 ppm Lead is toxic.]

December 27, 2018July 29, 2020

3 Comments

As expected, the exterior decorative painted flowers on this vintage Pastel Bouquet pattern Corningware casserole was positive for high levels of Lead when tested with an XRF instrument. Here’s a link to a post on a blog that helps to date many of the Corningware patterns. To learn more about XRF testing, click here. To…

Corningware c. 1996-1998 “Summer Blush” Square Casserole Dish with Pansies: 15,500 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.

December 19, 2017September 2, 2019

8 Comments

“Made in Illinois” Summer Blush pattern square Corningware baking / casserole dish with pansies. Period of manufacture: c. 1996-1998. The colored flower pattern on the outside of this dish was positive for 15,500 ppm Lead when tested with an XRF instrument. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in the paint or coating of an…

Older Corelle Iris Design White Glass Plate: 1,895 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe for kids).

November 26, 2017August 12, 2019

10 Comments

Older Corelle plate with decorative iris pattern Year of manufacture of this exact plate pictured here (the one I tested) is not known, however my readers updated me (August 2019) to tell me they have purchased this exact design (new at the store) in 1989 AND in 2019! I would be very interested in testing…

c. 1996 Mikasa Optima White Bowl, Made in Indonesia: 46,200 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe for kids’ items.)

January 14, 2017May 18, 2019

1 Comment

When tested with an XRF instrument this white ceramic Mikasa bowl tested postive for 46,200 ppm lead. For context: the amount of Lead that is considered unsafe in a newly manufactured item intended for use by children is 90 ppm Lead (or higher) in the paint, glaze or coating or 100 ppm Lead (or higher)…