Brass Hardware

Vintage (1980s?) silver colored cabinet knob (very heavy): 5,399 ppm Lead & 118 ppm Antimony.

October 15, 2022December 3, 2023

October 15, 2022 – Saturday Full XRF test results for the cabinet knob pictured 60-second reading Readings repeated multiple times to confirm the results Lead (Pb): 5,399 +/- 381 ppm Cadmium (Cd): non-detect Tin (Sn): 1,663 +/- 113 ppm Mercury (Hg): non-detect Selenium (Se): non-detect Barium (Ba): non-detect Arsenic (As): non-detect Chromium (Cr): non-detect Antimony…

House of Antique Hardware (Portland) “Lead-Free Crystal Cabinet Knob”: 23,400 ppm Lead on the back brass components.

August 11, 2022December 3, 2023

2022 | Brass | Brass Hardware

XRF test result for the crystal knob pictured. Oh – the “irony”! Reading #1) on the brass of the knob 60-second reading Lead (Pb): 23,400 +/- 900 ppm Cadmium (Cd): non-detect Tin (Sn): 5,070 +/- 210 ppm Mercury (Hg): non-detect Selenium (Se): non-detect Barium (Ba): non-detect Chromium (Cr): non-detect Antimony (Sb): non-detect Nickel…

Horse & Hound Brass Horse Knob: 26,500 ppm Lead & 401 ppm Antimony. [Check out the readings on the screw!]

August 11, 2022December 3, 2023

2 Comments

Reading #1) on the brass of the horse 60-second reading Lead (Pb): 26,500 +/- 900 ppm Cadmium (Cd): non-detect Tin (Sn): 5,698 +/- 220 ppm Mercury (Hg): non-detect Selenium (Se): non-detect Barium (Ba): non-detect Chromium (Cr): non-detect Antimony (Sb): 401 +/- 96 ppm Nickel (Ni): 3,487 +/- 236 ppm Copper (Cu): 592,600 +/- 2,400 ppm…

Signature Hardware Brass Horse Knob: 41,400 ppm Lead & 1,526 ppm Cadmium & 940 ppm Antimony.

August 10, 2022December 3, 2023

2 Comments

Reading #1) on the brass of the horse 60-second reading Lead (Pb): 41,400 +/- 1,100 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 1,526 +/- 113 ppm Tin (Sn): 8,218 +/- 258 ppm Mercury (Hg): non-detect Selenium (Se): non-detect Barium (Ba): non-detect Chromium (Cr): non-detect Antimony (Sb): 940 +/- 125 ppm Nickel (Ni): 7,429 +/- 306 ppm Copper (Cu): 541,800…

Cast brass drawer pull (marked: “Cont.B” & “P-1120-T”): 155 ppm Lead (very low for brass!), 54% Copper, 45% Zinc!

March 23, 2022December 3, 2023

XRF test results for modern cast brass (heavy) drawer pull pictured: Lead (Pb): 155 +/- 31 ppm (very low for brass!) Arsenic (As): non-detect Cadmium (Cd): non-detect Mercury (Hg): non-detect Bromine (Br): 103 +/- 8 ppm Chromium (Cr): 90 +/- 52 ppm Copper (Cu): 543,600 +/- 700 ppm (54%) Zinc (Zn): 453,300 +/- 700 ppm…

Brass colored cabinet knob/ drawer pull: 7,986 ppm Lead (90 & up is unsafe for kids), 33 ppm Cadmium, 163 ppm Antimony.

February 4, 2022December 3, 2023

1 Comment

XRF test results for the item pictured. More information to be posted shortly. To learn more about the testing methodology employed for the test results reported on this website, click here. For a quick menu to explore more categories of tested items on this website, click here. For a quick video tutorial showing you how…

Vintage-style glass and brass door knob (from Nostalgia Warehouse): 13,700 ppm Lead in the glass

August 29, 2021December 3, 2023

3 Comments

Reading #1) on the glass of the knob 60-second reading Lead (Pb): 13,700 +/- 1,000 ppm Bromine (Br): 24 +/- 2 ppm Copper (Cu): 42 +/- 10 ppm Zinc (Zn): 34 +/- 6 ppm Indium (In): 17 +/- 3 ppm Tin (Sb): 17 +/- 4 ppm Antimony (Sb): 1,460 +/- 21 ppm Barium (Ba): 51+/-…

Brass components of Finex cast iron pans test positive for 30,000 ppm Lead. For context, 90 ppm Lead (& up) is unsafe for kids.

May 19, 2021

9 Comments

May 19, 2021 – Wednesday To read the full post about the concerns for Lead in Finex cookware, click here. How much Lead is “too much” Lead? For context, the amount of Lead that is considered unsafe in an item intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint,…

How much Lead can you buy for $3.99 at Hobby Lobby? Brass dangle cabinet knob / drawer pull: 35,800 ppm Lead. 90 is unsafe for kids.

January 17, 2021January 17, 2021

Introduction to Tamara Rubin (for those new to this website!) Tamara Rubin lives in Portland, Oregon and is a child health advocate, author, documentary filmmaker, and mother of four sons. Her young men are now 24, 18, 15, and 12. She has won multiple national awards for her Lead-poisoning prevention advocacy work (including two from U.S….

Vintage Hotel Desk Bell: 40,900 ppm Lead (toxic to kids at 90 ppm & up) + 717 ppm Antimony (causes cancer in rats).

April 21, 2020April 21, 2020

Brass hotel desk bell – 60 second reading: Lead (Pb): 40,900 +/- 1,200 ppm Antimony (Sb): 717 +/- 144 ppm Tin (Sn): 28,000 +/- 600 ppm Zinc (Zn): 357,300 +/- 2,700 ppm Copper (Cu): 536,900 +/- 3,200 ppm Nickel (Ni): 4,046 +/- 362 ppm Iron (Fe): 10,300 +/- 600 ppm Chromium (Cr): 208 +/- 126…

This is why I don’t recommend “Nickel-plated” (or other platings) for doorknob finishes…

February 7, 2020February 9, 2020

19 Comments

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…

1940 Drawer Pull From Dining Room Sideboard: 8,681 ppm Lead

November 12, 2018November 12, 2018

6 Comments

These drawer pulls are from the dining set my grandparents got for their home when they were married in 1940 in San Francisco. When tested with an XRF instrument they had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 8,681 +/- 643 ppm Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect / Negative Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative…