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…
Published: January 7, 2020 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…
Published: January 7, 2020 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…
![The Beatles Yellow Submarine pin: 447,400 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe for kids] + 6.766 ppm Cadmium (a carcinogen)](https://tamararubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/The-Beatles-Yellow-Submarine-Lapel-Pin-Lead-Safe-Mama-2019-01a-768x576.jpg)
When tested with an XRF instrument, this Yellow Submarine Beatles pin [with no maker’s mark or information to indicate country of origin or year of manufacture*] had the following readings: On the decorative enamel front of the pin: Lead (Pb): 447,400 +/- 2,700 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 6,766 +/- 346 ppm Chromium (Cr): 531 +/- 147…
![Do you have a painted bracelet like this at home? This was positive for 19,400 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe] + 489 Arsenic.](https://tamararubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Wood-or-Paper-Mache-Handpainted-Vintage-Bracelet-Lead-Safe-Mama-2019-1-768x576.jpg)
When tested with an XRF instrument the hand painted child’s bracelet pictured here had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 19,400 +/- 400 ppm Arsenic (As): 489 +/- 132 ppm Barium (Ba): 24,500 +/- 500 ppm Chromium (Cr): 3,332 +/- 246 ppm Tests are science-based and results are replicable. Testing was done with a Niton XL3T…
This bracelet was one of a matching set that a bride purchased and gave to each of her bridesmaids for her wedding in 2014. There is no brand or maker’s mark on it that I can find. When I tested this I was floored by the fact that it was so recently made and yet…
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…
The amount of Lead that is considered unsafe by modern standards (and illegal) in items manufactured and sold expressly for use by children is 90 ppm Lead or higher in the surface paint or coating, and 100 ppm Lead (or higher) in the substrate (as detectable with an XRF instrument.) A lot of costume jewelry might…
![2012 Mardi Gras Beads: 15,800 ppm Lead (Pb) [90 ppm & up is unsafe for kids!] & 2,028 ppm Cadmium (causes cancer).](https://tamararubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2012-Blue-Mardi-Gras-Beads-from-New-Orleans-Lead-Safe-Mama-768x576.jpg)
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…
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…
The Q & A from the Boy Scouts’ site is below the image with the details of the recall. Fyi, it is not uncommon for enamelware items to have unsafe levels of lead. Click here to see more examples of enamelware items that are positive for lead. Click here to share this post on Facebook. As…
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…
This little ceramic parrot hair clip tested positive for both high levels of lead and cadmium (high compared to current standards for allowable levels of toxicants in items intended for children.) While the owner told me she got this in 1978 in Florida, I also want to say that I am 48 years old and…
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…
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…
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…
This necklace was brought to me in 2013 to be tested. It was being worn by a little girl. It was positive for 8,000 ppm lead in the crystals, 16,000 ppm lead in the clasp and 185,000 ppm lead in the small round metallic beads. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in an…
Post published: December 24, 2017 Vintage Plastic Avon Bear Pin. 2,300+ ppm Lead (Pb). The amount of lead that is considered toxic in the paint or coating of a modern item manufactured and intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher. I have tested quite a few…
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…
Please check out this little video below that Carissa (from Creative Green Living) and I made, testing costume jewelry hot of the display shelf at Target! Check out my #SaferChoices post about jewelry here! If you appreciate what I do & would like to support my advocacy work (including the XRF testing I do of consumer goods) please consider…
Alex & Ani Bracelets: Lead Free, Cadmium Free, Mercury Free, Arsenic Free! All components tested on bracelets pictured below. Please note: I cannot personally guarantee that all items from this brand will be lead free. Several are listed as having “crystals” which could be leaded (and cannot be assumed to be unleaded.) Only the specific…
My Little Pony Necklace: Lead Free, Cadmium Free, Mercury Free, Arsenic Free! All components tested. Newly made / recently made costume jewelry made and sold as intended for children is usually lead free, but not always. Note: when making choices for children, please avoid ALL vintage costume jewelry as it is nearly always VERY HIGH…
Earrings from Spain – no lead! “Toledo” style jewelry. Non-detect for lead with an XRF Instrument. Click here for guidelines for #SaferChoices: Including solid silver jewelry marked “925” – with natural stones (not crystals.)
Costume Jewelry Earring: 330,100 ppm lead. Jewelry intended for adults is not regulated for total lead content. Items intended for children are regulated by law to be 90 ppm lead or lower. …Not 9,000 ppm lead, and definitely not 90,000 ppm lead +++ Who’s to say that these aren’t given to a child to play…