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 by…
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+/-…
Introduction to Tamara (for those new to the site!) 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. government…
Vintage etched crystal wine goblet There is no brand or maker’s mark on this goblet. There are more photos with details of this goblet below the test results, so please scroll down. If you have any information that might help identify the brand or design (or year made!) for this piece, please do let me…
“Newer” Champagne Flutes These were a “hand-me-down” gifted to the owner. The design and style looks very “mid-1990s” to me (possibly as early as “late-1980s”.) There is no marker or maker etched on either of goblets in this pair (at least nothing I could see.) If you recognize the goblets (more photos of the detail…
![Did you have one of these tiny crystal hearts as a kid? This one is 55% Lead [557,800 ppm!] 100 ppm is unsafe for kids.](https://tamararubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Vintage-Leaded-Crystal-Heart-Lead-Safe-Mama-2020-01-768x576.jpg)
When tested with an XRF instrument this vintage (likely c. 1977-1989) crystal heart charm / fidget (it is not a bead, but something someone might hold in their hand or keep in a keepsake box)…. had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 557,800 +/- 77,000 ppm Antimony (Sb): 2,663 +/- 620 ppm Zinc (Zn): 21,100 +/-…
Originally posted: October 10, 2019 Updated: December 28, 2019 Several months ago, a mom who lives nearly 3,000 miles away from where I live in Portland, Oregon contacted me to see if there was any chance I could come to her home to help her. She had just learned that her 13-year-old kiddo tested positive…
Salt Shaker Test Results When tested with an XRF instrument this vintage crystal salt shaker had the following readings: Crystal base of the shaker: Lead (Pb): 11,500 +/- 300 ppm Barium (Ba): 2,628 +/- 125 ppm Antimony (Sb): 1,502 +/-63 ppm Bromine (Br): 64 +/- 7 ppm Zinc (Zn): 4,582 +/- 179 ppm Iron (Fe):…
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…
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…
Lead-Safe Crystal Mobile Set, Tested in 2018 While I don’t have concern for this sort of item poisoning a child (unless it is actually high lead) it is very interesting to note the different metals that make up each of the different types of crystals. Click here to see a very close version to this…
This small vintage cut crystal goblet was positive for lead at 22,200 +/- 700 ppm when tested with an XRF instrument. There is no mark or maker information available for this piece, although I did confirm that it is vintage. Most leaded crystal is positive for lead at levels closer to 300,000 ppm so this…
Click the image below to read the full piece. “The consumption of alcoholic beverages stored in lead crystal decanters is judged to pose a hazard.”
Crystal decanter : 266,300 ppm lead! Leaded crystal decanters are especially dangerous as people tend to pour their hard liquor into them and leave it in them for extended periods of time. If you drink a beverage out of a leaded crystal decanter on a regular basis, that’s a pretty good way to give yourself…
Candlestick I found at a yardsale, proudly displaying a “24% Lead Crystal” sticker! This means they are 240,000 ppm lead. There is no safe level of lead exposure to children. Items manufactured today that are intended for use by children must be no higher than 90 ppm lead. Items intended for use by adults (especially…
Green tinted crystal rainbow maker: 422,000 ppm Lead. These can create lead dust and will very often test positive with a LeadCheck swab. Here’s a link to some lead-free options on Amazon!* Oval one from Swarovski for $17.95 Round one from Swarovski for $24.95 A smaller round one from Swarovski for $14.85 For more #SaferChoices for…
This looks a lot like the one posted earlier that has lead. It’s difficult for most consumers to tell the difference. If you are looking for lead-free products for your home only buy from trusted retailers and companies. For something like this, given children play with these often, I always recommend lead-free over leaded! It’s…
Originally published November 21, 2017 Updated December 9, 2019 Introduction: Tamara Rubin is a multi-award-winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety, and a mother of Lead-poisoned children. Her infant and toddler sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in August of 2005. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009, and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding…
387,200 parts per million lead (leaded crystal ring stand.) #XRFTesting Choosing products made of leaded crystal supports the work of companies that do lead mining and lead refining. These companies poison the planet and often poison their workers in the process. Please consider alternatives to leaded crystal. Solid sterling silver is an option, stainless steel,…
Costume Jewelry bracelet: >100,000 ppm lead, leaded crystal. Tested with an XRF. – Click here to learn about #SaferChoices for your family including alternatives like solid silver jewelry marked “925” – with natural stones (not crystals.)