Cadmium Concerns

#AskTamara: Is there Lead paint on the outside of my “Jervis & George” reusable glass baby food container?

September 16, 2018July 3, 2023

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)…

#AskTamara: Are my kids’ crayons toxic? Which brand of crayons is safe? Crayola? Filana? Stockmar? Honey Sticks?

August 10, 2018April 23, 2024

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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,…

Royal Norfolk Ceramic Snowman Christmas Mug: 1007 ppm Lead + 539 ppm Cadmium (90 ppm Lead, 40 ppm Cadmium is unsafe)

June 24, 2018March 10, 2024

3 Comments

This Royal Norfolk “Made in China” snowman mug tested positive for Lead and cadmium at the following levels (note, the year of manufacture is unknown, however, I don’t believe this is very old). Here’s a link to this exact piece on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Qnone7. To see more Royal Norfolk pieces I have tested, click HERE. To…

Vintage Libbey High Ball Christmas Glass Tamara Rubin Lead Safe Mama

Vintage Libbey High Ball Christmas Glass: 60,600 ppm Lead + 2,940 ppm Cadmium

June 13, 2018November 20, 2018

6 Comments

To see more Christmas items I have tested, Click HERE. I purchased this glass in an antique store to add to my “museum of lead” collection and to feature in my upcoming book on lead in household goods. It tested positive for Lead both with a LeadCheck swab (see video) and with an XRF instrument….

“Made in Poland” Yellow Enamelware Mug: 88 ppm Lead + 21,600 ppm Cadmium [75 ppm Cadmium is illegal in modern items in Denmark.]

April 3, 2018May 25, 2019

2 Comments

Yellow Enamelware Mug, “Made In Poland.” Positive for Lead at 88 ppm and for Cadmium at 21,600 ppm. Tested with an XRF instrument. While this mug is considered Lead-Safe* the amount of Cadmium present is at a level that is considered toxic in an item intended for children (and toxic by many standards otherwise as…

#Cadmium: Voss Glass Water Bottle

January 23, 2018January 27, 2018

3 Comments

Clear glass water bottle, Voss brand. The bottle and lid were negative for lead, mercury and arsenic – but the white writing on the outside was positive for trace (low levels) of cadmium, at 11 ppm. (+/- 6 ppm). If you have scrolled through the posts on my blog at all you have seen that…

2012 Dollar Tree Red Ball Ornaments: 29 ppm Cadmium + 66 ppm Arsenic (but no Lead!)

December 5, 2017July 12, 2020

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Red plastic ball-style Christmas ornament, purchased at the Dollar Tree store, c.2012. Cadmium (Cd): 29 +/- 17 ppm Arsenic (As): 66 +/- 14 ppm Lead (Pb): Non-Detect / Negative Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative All components and finishes tested with an XRF instrument. Here’s a lead-free Christmas decoration option on Amazon.* For #SaferChoices for your family, click…

#Cadmium: Older/Vintage Black Tycos Stethoscope

December 3, 2017

Vintage Tycos Stethoscope. Tested with an XRF instrument. Year of manufacture is unknown. Tested negative for Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg) and Arsenic (As), but positive for Cadmium (Cd) at 150 +/- 13 ppm on the rubber tubing component. All components tested. Read more about cadmium toxicity here. Thanks to Marya Shahriary for donating and…

#Cadmium: Small Toy Copper Coffee Pot

December 3, 2017April 28, 2020

1 Comment

This little antique/ vintage toy coffee pot is 999,700 ppm copper on the outside (basically a pure copper exterior), but the inside (which would touch an beverage poured into it by a child is positive for cadmium when tested with an XRF instrument: Cadmium reading: 1,248 +/- 154 ppm. Read more about cadmium toxicity here….

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

December 2, 2017October 28, 2018

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…

NuSpin Zoomie Straw Cup (sippy cup): Non-Detect for Lead, Mercury & Arsenic. Trace Cadmium in the straw.

December 1, 2017April 4, 2019

2 Comments

When tested with an XRF instrument, this NuSpin Zoomie Straw Cup, purchased new in 2017 had the following readings: Main plastic body of cup (including “painted” decorative elements): Lead (Pb): Non-detect (ND) / Negative Cadmium (Cd): Non-detect (ND) / Negative Mercury (Hg): Non-detect (ND) / Negative Arsenic (As): Non-detect (ND) / Negative Clear flexible silicone sippy straw: Lead (Pb): Non-detect…

#LeadFree: Silicone Kiddiebites Baby Plate

December 1, 2017December 1, 2017

3 Comments

Silicone Kiddiebites brand baby plate purchased in 2017. Made in USA. Tested with an XRF instrument. Non-detect for lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg) and Arsenic (As), but positive for trace Cadmium (Cd) at 20 +/- 7 parts per million (ppm.) Read more about cadmium concerns here. Quite a few silicone baby items that have been tested…

Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Glass Baby Bottle: Lead-free, but trace Cadmium found in the glass of the bottle & nipple

October 14, 2017July 11, 2024

10 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,…

#LeadFree: Munchkin Brand Sippy Straw Cup

March 20, 2017

10 Comments

Munchkin Brand Sippy Straw Cup: Lead Free (NonDetect/ ND for Pb). Also ND for As & Hg! Integrated silicone straw is 24 ppm Cd. (Considered safe by all standards.) To see a similar product online click here!* For more #SaferChoices for your family, click here! Learn more about XRF Testing here. Please consider contributing in support of my…

Tommee Tippee sippy cup w/ integrated silicone straw: No Pb, Hg or As – but positive for trace Cadmium in the straw.

March 20, 2017April 4, 2019

1 Comment

When tested with an XRF instrument the Tommee Tippee Sippy Straw Cup pictured below (tested in March of 2017) had the following readings: The main plastic components of the cups (lid and cup): Lead (Pb): NonDetect/ ND (negative) Arsenic (As): NonDetect/ ND (negative) Mercury (Hg): NonDetect/ ND (negative) Cadmium (Cd): NonDetect/ ND (negative) The clear silicone integrated sippy straw: Lead…

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

March 20, 2017March 7, 2020

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]….

#LeadFree: Silicone Placemat

March 20, 2017

Green Silicone Placemat: Lead Free (NonDetect/ ND for Pb), 21 ppm Cadmium. For more #SaferChoices for your family, click here! Learn more about XRF Testing here. Please consider contributing in support of my consumer goods testing & childhood lead poisoning prevention advocacy work here or here. Thank you!

Blue & White Enameled Bowl

March 15, 2017March 15, 2017

Blue & White Enameled Bowl: 162 ppm Lead (Pb), 4,692 ppm Cadmium. Please consider contributing in support of my consumer goods testing & childhood lead poisoning prevention advocacy work here or here. Thank you!

Pyrex Glass 100th Anniversary Measuring Cup (2013): Positive for 54 ppm Cadmium in the Dark Blue Exterior Markings.

March 15, 2017October 29, 2018

2013 “100th Anniversary” Pyrex glass measuring cup with dark blue painted markings. When tested with an XRF instrument this cup had the following readings: Lead (Pb): ND/Non-Detect (Negative) Cadmium (Cd): 54 +/- 8 ppm Cadmium is a known possible carcinogen and, regardless of regulatory standards and “allowable limits”, does not belong in our cookware. To…

Soft green silicone toddler cup by Green Sprouts Brand: Positive for 20 +/- 6 ppm Cadmium [a known carcinogen].

March 9, 2017July 27, 2023

6 Comments

Green Sprouts Silicone Child’s Cup: Lead Free! When tested with an XRF instrument the Green Sprouts brand soft silicone toddler cup pictured below (a 2015 cup that was tested in March of 2017) had the following readings: Lead (Pb): Non-Detect [ND] / negative Arsenic (As): Non-Detect [ND] / negative Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect [ND] / negative Cadmium (Cd): 20 +/-…

#XRFTesting: Pura Water Bottle with Silicone Sleeve

March 5, 2017January 27, 2018

3 Comments

This stainless steel Pura water bottle (pictured here and below) is non-detect for lead in all of the accessible parts. The silicone parts of this particular bottle tested positive for low/ trace cadmium. Given I have been finding cadmium in more than 50% of silicone items I have tested, I conclude (just based on my observations) that…

#XRFTesting: Green Sprouts Plastic Sippy Bottle

March 4, 2017March 4, 2017

Green Sprouts Brand Plastic Sippy Bottle: All Components were “Non-Detect” (negative) for Lead, Arsenic and Mercury. Exact items tested are in photo below. All components were tested. Only the two components with an arrow (in the photo below) pointing to specific results were positive for cadmium. All of the other components tested negative (non-detect) for the following elements:…

#XRFTesting: Orange Pura Child’s Water Bottle

March 4, 2017January 27, 2018

1 Comment

This stainless steel Pura water bottle (pictured below) is non-detect for lead in all of the accessible parts. The silicone parts of this particular bottle tested positive for low/ trace cadmium. Given I have been finding cadmium in more than 50% of silicone items I have tested, I conclude (just based on my observations) that this…

2017 Oxo Silicone Spatula: Lead-free, however it was positive for 24 ppm Cadmium (a safe level by all current standards).

March 3, 2017March 6, 2020

Oxo Black Silicone Spatula: Lead Free, Cadmium: 24 +/- 10 ppm. NOTE: While this particular item (the exact one tested is pictured below) was Lead-free (non-detect for Lead with an XRF instrument) I have also tested many items from this brand that were positive for trace levels of Lead in the rubberized handles. As a…