Beads

Dollar Tree Store (Spring 2019) Mardi Gras Beads: Lead Free, Cadmium Free, Mercury Free & Arsenic Free (and just $1)

Dollar Tree Store (Spring 2019) Mardi Gras Beads: Lead Free, Cadmium Free, Mercury Free & Arsenic Free (and just $1)

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Continue reading below each photo of the different color beads to see the full XRF test results for that color bead. I often share that because the Dollar stores (Dollar Tree, Dollar General, etc.) have had so many violations in the past they are actually doing a good job of keeping Lead, Cadmium, Mercury and…

Rosary Bead Charm – Positive for Lead at 5,190 ppm. 90 ppm & up is unsafe for children.

Rosary Bead Charm – Positive for Lead at 5,190 ppm. 90 ppm & up is unsafe for children.

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The metal charm on the rosary bead strand pictured here was positive for Lead (Pb) at 5,190 ppm when tested with an XRF instrument. The amount of Lead that is considered toxic in an item made for use by children specifically is anything 100 ppm Lead or higher in the substrate or anything 90 ppm…

2012 Mardi Gras Beads: 15,800 ppm Lead (Pb) [90 ppm & up is unsafe for kids!] & 2,028 ppm Cadmium (causes cancer).

2012 Mardi Gras Beads: 15,800 ppm Lead (Pb) [90 ppm & up is unsafe for kids!] & 2,028 ppm Cadmium (causes cancer).

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Blue Metallic Plastic Mardi Gras Beads. When filming for my documentary in New Orleans in February of 2012 we collected quite a few sets of Mardi Gras beads, including this set. When tested with an XRF instrument the blue plastic beads pictured had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 15,800 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 2,028 ppm [This…

2014 Golden Mardi Gras Beads; 1,127 ppm Lead (Pb). 90 ppm & up is unsafe! Please don’t let children play with these.

2014 Golden Mardi Gras Beads; 1,127 ppm Lead (Pb). 90 ppm & up is unsafe! Please don’t let children play with these.

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Gold Plastic Mardi Gras Beads from 2014. In 2014 I did an outreach event at the Charleston Children’s Museum and did XRF testing of consumer goods for folks who came to the museum that day. A nanny came up to my table pushing a toddler in her stroller and I noticed the toddler had these…

#Leaded: 1990s Glass Seed Bead Wolf Necklace

#Leaded: 1990s Glass Seed Bead Wolf Necklace

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1990s Glass Seed Bead Wolf Necklace. Seed beads like this commonly test positive for lead and cadmium and sometimes even mercury and arsenic. I personally avoid pieces like this in my home, but I must admit they are very beautiful! While it is very difficult to separate out the different beads on a piece like…

Maybe Grandma can Keep her Vintage Faux Pearls?: 295,900 ppm Lead (90 & up is unsafe in items kids use)

Maybe Grandma can Keep her Vintage Faux Pearls?: 295,900 ppm Lead (90 & up is unsafe in items kids 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…

Three sets of vintage faux pearls. Which ones have Lead, and how much of it?

Three sets of vintage faux pearls. Which ones have Lead, and how much of it?

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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…

Vintage Faux Pearls, Off-White Heavy Plastic: 4,687 ppm Lead + 140 ppm Arsenic (90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids!)

Vintage Faux Pearls, Off-White Heavy Plastic: 4,687 ppm Lead + 140 ppm Arsenic (90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids!)

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    Click here to see some of the other “pearls” I have tested. 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…

#Leaded: Off-White Vintage Faux Pearls, Glass

#Leaded: Off-White Vintage Faux Pearls, Glass

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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…

Vintage faux pearls: 125,700 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe. Please don’t let your children play with grandma’s faux pearls!

Vintage faux pearls: 125,700 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe. Please don’t let your children play with grandma’s faux pearls!

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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…

Do plastic Mardi Gras beads have an unsafe levels of Lead and Cadmium?

Do plastic Mardi Gras beads have an unsafe levels of Lead and Cadmium?

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Purple Plastic Mardi Gras Beads from New Orleans Mardi Gras 2012. When tested with an XRF instrument the plastic beads pictured had the following toxicant readings: Lead (Pb): 315 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 132 ppm Arsenic (As): Negative/ Non-Detect Mercury (Hg): Negative/ Non-Detect For more XRF test results of beads I have tested, click here. The…

Happy Halloween! Super-Leaded Tiny Pumpkin Bead (lots of Lead CAN come in very small packages!): 17,500 ppm Lead

Happy Halloween! Super-Leaded Tiny Pumpkin Bead (lots of Lead CAN come in very small packages!): 17,500 ppm Lead

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Alternate Title: #AskTamara: What types of beads are safe for my children to play with? 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…

Black silicone chew beads: these were negative for Lead, Arsenic & Mercury (but positive for 13 ppm Cadmium).

Black silicone chew beads: these were negative for Lead, Arsenic & Mercury (but positive for 13 ppm Cadmium).

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Originally published: March 20, 2017 Updated: March 7, 2020 Silicone Chew Bead Necklace for Mom:   When tested with a high-precision XRF instrument, these silicone “chew beads” (meant for mom to wear around her neck so baby can chew on them while baby is being carried / held) were Lead-free [Non Detect (“ND”) for Pb]….