Introduction For each post I write, there are category keyword tabs at the top of the post. Each of those words is a link to the category, and you can get to that category overview (to see all of the posts in that category) anytime, by clicking on any of those words. I am working…
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…
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…
This is an ad-free article. To make a contribution to help us keep our most widely-read articles ad-free, click here. Thank you. 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…
Introduction (for those new to this website): Tamara Rubin is an independent advocate for consumer goods safety. 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. Tamara uses XRF testing (a scientific…
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…
![Hardcover 1946 children’s book – “Fun with Dick and Jane”: 1,045 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]](https://tamararubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/1946-Fun-With-Dick-And-Jane-Hardcover-Book-Lead-Safe-Mama-1-768x576.jpg)
When tested with an XRF instrument, this 1946 hardcover edition of of “Fun with Dick and Jane” had the following readings: On the painted part of the cover (yellow area): Lead (Pb): 839 +/- 24 ppm Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect (negative) Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect (negative) Arsenic (As): 76 +/- 17 ppm Antimony (Sb): Non-Detect (negative) Barium…
“For The Children’s Hour”, Copyright 1906 (print date 1924) By Bradley Quality Books, Milton Bradley Company. Springfield, Massachusetts. The amount of Lead that is considered toxic in a newly manufactured item intended for use by children is anything 100 ppm Lead or higher in the substrate of the item or anything 90 ppm Lead or…
“Robin Hood & His Merry Men”, Copyright 1916 By Whitman Publishing Co. Racine, Wisconsin The amount of Lead that is considered toxic in a newly manufactured item intended for use by children is anything 100 ppm Lead or higher in the substrate of the item or anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint…
1966 Book, “It’s Wonderful To Be In Love” by Rosalind Welcher. When tested with an XRF instrument this book had the following readings: Front Cover: Lead (Pb): 387 +/- 21 ppm Arsenic (As): 39 +/- 15 ppm Barium (Ba): 317 +/- 150 Chromium (Cr): 372 +/- 72 ppm Bromine (Br): 6 +/- 3 ppm Zinc…
1978 Copy of “Holly Hobbie’s Answer Book” Paperback Child’s Book Note: The XRF instrument tests down to single-digit ppm accuracy. Items intended for use by children are considered toxic and unsafe for children at 90 ppm lead or higher in the paint or coating or 100 ppm paint or coating in the substrate. A “negative”…
Tested with an XRF instrument this 1985 “Princess of Power A Most Unpleasant Present” Mini Comic Book was positive for the following elements at the following levels: Cover Lead (Pb): 105 +/- 18 ppm Chromium (Cr): 158 +/- 83 ppm Zinc (Zn): 66 +/- 19 ppm Copper (Cu): 105 +/- 35 ppm Nickel (Ni): 151…
1985 Time Life The Enchanted World Water Spirits Hardcover Book, all components of the book tested with an XRF. See full XRF readings below. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern item made and intended for use by children is 90 ppm or higher in the paint or coating. All of…
Many vintage books have lead in both the covers (in the dyes of the fabric or leather, the printing/ink and in any decorative paints used) and pages (in the ink). While the distinction of the word “vintage” changes as the years pass (“vintage” vs. “new”, vs. “antique”) please remember that 1981 (while it seems like…
Most vintage books have at least some amount of lead. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern item manufactured and intended to be used by children is 90 ppm or higher in the coating (or paint) and 100 ppm (or higher) in the substrate. This 1963 printing of “The Roosevelt Era”…
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,…
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…
Most vintage books have at least some amount of lead. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern item manufactured and intended to be used by children is 90 ppm or higher in the coating (or paint) and 100 ppm (or higher) in the substrate. This 1965 printing of “Great Detective Stories”…
![2006 Nursery Songs Book With Built In Xylophone: 62,500 ppm Lead [90 ppm Lead is unsafe.]](https://tamararubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/2006-Nursery-Songs-Xylophone-Book-Tamara-Rubin-Lead-Safe-Mama-768x576.jpg)
Nursery Songs book with built in xylophone. First published in 2006 by The Five Mile Press Pty Ltd, e-mail: publishing@fivemile.com.au. Tested positive as high as 62,500 ppm LEAD!!!!!! (when tested with an XRF instrument.) The component that was the highest lead was the yellow xylophone key. New legislation was signed and put in place in the…
1953 Walt Disney Little Golden Book: “Hiawatha” This book tested positive for 535 ppm Lead when tested with an XRF instrument. Items intended for children are considered unsafe (and illegal if newly manufactured) when they test positive for lead at 90 ppm lead (or higher) in the coating or 100 ppm lead (or higher) in…
When tested with an XRF instrument this 1958 Little Golden Book (1958! Same age as my husband!), tested positive for 208 ppm Lead (Pb). Newly manufactured Items intended for use children today (in 2019) are considered unsafe (and illegal if newly manufactured) when they test positive for lead at 90 ppm lead (or higher) in…
Yes, vintage books can have lead! This 1954 Reprint of the 1926 children’s book “Winnie The Pooh” tested positive for both Lead and Arsenic in the cover art. When tested with an XRF instrument the book pictured had the following levels: Lead (Pb): 3,999 +/- 94 parts per million (ppm) Arsenic (As): 326 +/- 59…
1969 Hardy Boys Book. The Secret Of Wildcat Swamp. Hardcover. Book Cover: 27 +/- 8 ppm lead. Interior pages: ND (non-detect) for lead. Tested with an XRF instrument. Personally I avoid letting my children use vintage books, because they almost always test positive for lead (plus we live near Powell’s, one of the largest book…
1946 Hardy Boys Book. The Secret Panel. Hardcover. Cover Image (brown paint): 1334 +/- 48 ppm lead & 144 +/- 34 ppm arsenic. Interior pages: 32 +/- 10 ppm lead. Tested with an XRF instrument. Personally I avoid letting my children use vintage books, because they almost always test positive for lead (plus we live…