Cadmium Toxicity

#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

32 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,…

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

4 Comments

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,…

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…

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…

Newer Tangerine Orange Fiesta Bowl: 227 ppm Cadmium (& Lead-free). Fiesta is aware their products have Cadmium.

January 3, 2017January 31, 2020

8 Comments

When tested with an XRF instrument the newer (c. 2012 – 2016) Fiestaware tangerine orange bowl pictured here had the following readings: Lead (Pb): Non-Detect / Negative Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative Cadmium (Cd): 227 ppm • • • Please read about my concerns for cadmium here. For safer choices…

Newer Fiestaware Purple Bowl: 67 ppm Cadmium [but Lead-free]

January 3, 2017December 26, 2018

Whent tested with an XRF instrument this newer Fiestaware purple bowl had the following readings: Lead (Pb): Non-Detect / Negative Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative Cadmium (Cd): 67 ppm The level of Cadmium found in this bowl is considered a “trace” level (likely a contaminant of the colorant for the…

#LeadFreeDishes: Newer Fiestaware Mug and Saucer

January 3, 2017January 28, 2018

9 Comments

Newer Fiestaware Coffee Cup & Saucers: NO LEAD. However positive for approximately 130 ppm Cadmium. Cadmium is most often found in ceramics that are painted with reds, yellows or oranges, or other colors that may have those colors as part of the formula. • • • Please read about my concerns for cadmium here. Tested…

Cadmium Concerns

January 3, 2017June 17, 2023

14 Comments

Finding Lead in dishware is one thing, however I have also recently posted several posts where dishes have tested positive for Cadmium. While I will go in to more specifics below, I think we really ought to be questioning an industry that uses Cadmium at all (regardless of whether or not they test their items…

Vintage Pyrex Teacup & Saucer with Pink Stripe & Gold Edge: 79,800 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) + Cadmium

December 30, 2016January 8, 2024

2 Comments

Made in USA: Pyrex cup & saucer: 79,800 ppm Lead (Pb) & 1,962 ppm Cadmium (Cd) Most ceramics or glass items that are tinted pink or red have some level of cadmium in them. This is especially true for vintage or antique items. To learn more about the concern for Cadmium (Cd) toxicity, click HERE. #XRFTesting •…