#AskTamara

#AskTamara: What is Carbon Steel? (Morakniv, Made in Sweden Carving Knife)

#AskTamara: What is Carbon Steel? (Morakniv, Made in Sweden Carving Knife)

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Originally published: July 8, 2018 Updated: December 26, 2021 Q: What is carbon steel? A: The following XRF readings are all of the metals detected when testing the Morakniv “Made In Sweden” knife (pictured here), which is marked “Carbon Steel”. While I have not tested a lot of carbon steel items, these readings are likely…

Tamara, what do you want to write about? (Feeling a wee bit sorry for myself today!)

Tamara, what do you want to write about? (Feeling a wee bit sorry for myself today!)

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July 4, 2018 This morning I was talking to my husband about what my readers want me to write about and what articles I should focus on today (while I have a babysitter/ some quiet time). I was trying to decide if I should do more baby bottle pieces or more gardening/hose write-ups. Dear Hubs…

#AskTamara: What is stainless steel? (This U.S.A. made Lead-free hose has all stainless steel hardware!)

#AskTamara: What is stainless steel? (This U.S.A. made Lead-free hose has all stainless steel hardware!)

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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)…

Walmart Jelly Shoes DO NOT HAVE LEAD [Says an expert (on Lead in consumer goods) who has personally tested them!]

Walmart Jelly Shoes DO NOT HAVE LEAD [Says an expert (on Lead in consumer goods) who has personally tested them!]

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#AsKTamara: Do Walmart jelly shoes for toddlers have lead? Are jelly shoes sold at Walmart responsible for my child’s lead poisoning? For folks who want a graphic to easily share about the concern for lead with Walmart Jelly shoes for toddlers (a graphic you can share on Facebook or Twitter) we created this info-graphic. You…

Ask Tamara: What books do you read to your kids?

Ask Tamara: What books do you read to your kids?

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Ask Tamara Question: What books do you read to your kids? Answer: Having children with disabilities makes everything challenging. Something a simple as reading a book to them at bed-time can end up in a downright brawl if we are not careful. As a compromise I have found that books-on-tape are a great investment. If…

#AskTamara: What Does A Snack Look Like At Your House?

#AskTamara: What Does A Snack Look Like At Your House?

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I grabbed this post from Facebook, originally posted January 5, 2018. My social media followers like to me to share some simple vignettes from my life. There are critics who are CERTAIN I can’t possibly have a lead-free / lead-safe home (they insist I must have some lead in my home!) so I especially like…

#AskTamara: Guess Which of These Four White Glass Lamp Shades Has Lead and How Much!

#AskTamara: Guess Which of These Four White Glass Lamp Shades Has Lead and How Much!

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Please take a look at the four white glass lamp shades below and guess which ones have lead and at what levels!  [This is a great “game” to play with your “newly lead-woke” friends!, Answers are posted below the final image.] Click here for more examples of lamps I have tested. Click here for more…

Ask Tamara: Do Starbucks mugs have high levels of Lead?

Ask Tamara: Do Starbucks mugs have high levels of Lead?

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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…

Charlie’s Closet

Charlie’s Closet

This is the “After” picture: Published: February 24, 2018 While I was recently away in California with Charlie (my youngest son, who has a mental illness diagnosis), my husband called me and said that while we were out of the house he wanted to repair the door-frame to the closet that Charlie uses as his…

#AskTamara: Interesting note, melting point of lead…

#AskTamara: Interesting note, melting point of lead…

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In response to an inquiry concerning the potential impact of high-temperatures (e.g. those that might be encountered over the lifetime of a typical frying pan) on leaded decorative coatings, brand markings, etc. found on the outside (or bottom) of some cookware, I asked the Internet two questions, the answers to which I found interesting when…

Are there Lead-free modern clear glass dishes? Some Lead-free dish choices.

Are there Lead-free modern clear glass dishes? Some Lead-free dish choices.

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  This is an ad-free article. To make a contribution and help us keep our most widely-read articles ad-free, click here. Thank you. Published: December 23, 20217 Updated: March 1, 2024 Question: Tamara are there any modern clear glass dishes that are also Lead-free? Answer: Yes! While vintage glassware is often positive for Lead, and…

#AskTamara: What detergent do you use to get rid of Lead dust in fabric items?

#AskTamara: What detergent do you use to get rid of Lead dust in fabric items?

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  This is an ad-free article. We have updated this article by removing advertisements to make it easier for you to read. If you would like to support our independent consumer goods testing by contributing (which will also help us keep our more widely-read articles ad-free), click here. Thank you! For those new to the…

#AskTamara: Are Pokeman cards lead-safe?

#AskTamara: Are Pokeman cards lead-safe?

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Question: Are Pokemon cards lead-safe? Answer: Hell ya! [#ImAPokemonFan!] We happen to have several thousand Pokemon cards in our home.  Luckily most were given to us, either via “Freecycle” or friends and family passing along their collections, so I haven’t had to buy many of these for my kids. My kids have been nuts about…

#AskTamara: Can you test my stuff?

#AskTamara: Can you test my stuff?

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Monthly contribution / subscription link. What should I consider having tested link. One time contribution link. How does Tamara test stuff? What is an XRF? Tamara’s XRF Training Certificate. ****IMPORTANT **** PER THE INFO GRAPHIC BELOW (Posted 12/2017), PLEASE NOTE: If you need your test results urgently please send your items to a lab. It…

#AskTamara: What coffee maker do you use?

#AskTamara: What coffee maker do you use?

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I get this question A LOT! “Tamara, what coffee maker do you use?” A: Mostly we use a French press style coffee maker. However I do want to clarify that I have found lead in several French presses.  Specifically (as with many measuring cups and other glass items with logos or marked writings on the…

#AskTamara: Cupcakes, Muffins and Legos! Oh My!

#AskTamara: Cupcakes, Muffins and Legos! Oh My!

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#AskTamara: “What do you use to make muffins and cupcakes???!!!” Hello! Something that I think is really fun/interesting/exciting about my advocacy work is that I NEVER know which of my posts or responses is going to cause a stir on Facebook/Social Media! It’s always a surprise to me, even when  – in hindsight – it…

#AskTamara: Are New Fisher Price Mega Bloks Lead Free?

#AskTamara: Are New Fisher Price Mega Bloks Lead Free?

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Below are the XRF test results for the new (2017) Fisher Price Mega Bloks pictured here. Lead (Pb): Negative / Non-Detect Mercury (Hg): Negative / Non-Detect Arsenic (As):  Negative / Non-Detect Cadmium (Cd): Negative / Non-Detect Tested with an XRF Instrument. All components were tested including each color block and all components of bag (zipper,…

#AskTamara: What consumer goods should I have tested with an XRF?

#AskTamara: What consumer goods should I have tested with an XRF?

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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…

Glass Reusable Drinking Straws

Glass Reusable Drinking Straws

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#AskTamara: What reusable straws do you use? Someone recently asked me about straws. All of the reusable straws I have tested so far have been lead-free, both the plain glass and plain stainless steel ones. I really like the glass ones because you can see inside and know if they are clean or not (vs….

#AskTamara: Where can I test for Lead using a LeadCheck Swab or other reactive agent home test?

#AskTamara: Where can I test for Lead using a LeadCheck Swab or other reactive agent home test?

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Published: November 10, 2017 Q. (From Mama R, via Facebook): “I’m going to purchase a lead test kit on the weekend. Where do I test? I live in an old building (triplex). I’m not sure how old. We have lived here for two years. The apartment was painted before we moved in. My husband said…

Food Testing Standards and Methodologies – from the FDA

Food Testing Standards and Methodologies – from the FDA

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In response to my post the other day asking for information about labs that do testing of food, supplements and other things parents would like tested, Tom Neltner responded with this document that discusses and outlines the testing methodologies and standards set in March of 2015 by the FDA for food (and similar products –…

Ask Tamara: What personal care products do you use?

Ask Tamara: What personal care products do you use?

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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…

#AskTamara: What do you have in your emergency bag in the car?

#AskTamara: What do you have in your emergency bag in the car?

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Note: this is a rare non-lead-related post! #JustForFun Published: October 14, 2017 #AskTamara: This question came up on Facebook in a group of mom-friends: Q. What do you have in your emergency bag in the car? A. Since we don’t own a car, I keep stuff in my bike bag. Here’s some of the things…