#AskTamara Question: Do dragon tears have lead? Answer: Some do and some do not. Given the nature of the way most colored glass is commonly produced, many dragon tears do have at least some lead, and some have quite high amounts of lead — at levels considered dangerous for children by current/modern regulatory standards. [Even […]
#AskTamara: Question: Are my kids’ crayons toxic? Which brand of crayons is safe? Answer: Yes, it is very possible that one or more crayons in your child’s crayon box contain some detectable level of heavy metals when tested with an XRF instrument. In fact – while I have not tested all brands (I have only tested […]
#AskTamara Q: What is carbon steel? A: The following XRF readings are all of the metals detected when testing the Morakniv “Made In Sweden” knife (pictured here), which is marked “Carbon Steel”. While I have not tested a lot of carbon steel items, these readings are likely typical for carbon steel. Chromium (Cr): 2,094 +/- […]
Ask Tamara Question: What books do you read to your kids? Answer: Having children with disabilities makes everything challenging. Something a simple as reading a book to them at bed-time can end up in a downright brawl if we are not careful. As a compromise I have found that books-on-tape are a great investment. If […]
Ask Tamara: Question: “Do Starbucks mugs have high levels of lead in them? What are the safest options for non-toxic coffee mugs?” A. [Simplified Answer!]: YES, many Starbucks Coffee Company branded mugs have high levels of lead in them (as measurable by testing with an XRF instrument). Note: This is not illegal in any way; […]
Mascara? Eyeliner? Lipstick? Lotion? Toothpaste? Shampoo? Conditioner? Deodorant? Perfume? Soap? So many of my followers have asked me what products I use for personal care products (“…given so many popular brands include toxic ingredients, have questionable quality control and/or ethics… what do YOU use?” – they ask!) My immediate answer is “nothing… on most days I don’t even […]
Note: this is a rare non-lead-related post! #JustForFun #AskTamara: This question came up on Facebook in a group of mom-friends: Q. What do you have in your emergency bag in the car? A. Since we don’t own a car, I keep stuff in my bike bag. Here’s some of the things I keep in my […]
Originally Posted June 17, 2014 Updated April 2017 Question from Lucy (Via MisLEAD: America’s Secret Epidemic Facebook Page.) QUESTION: Hi Tamara, We just bought a new house and it has the original bath tub (1956). What would be the best and most effective way to test for lead? I’d also like to test dishes, toys, […]
This post is in response to questions from so many of you asking what kind of toothpaste we use in our home! Please note: I have never claimed to be a toothpaste expert, (just a lead expert!) & this post discusses my personal choices for my family, based on daily considerations I have as a result […]
Ask Tamara: Q. Hi! Thank you for all you do!! Are the LeadCheck® test swabs from Home Depot sufficient enough to test my dishware? Also, even though Fiestaware says “lead free: it could still have cadmium in it, correct? Thank you and I follow all your work! A. The short of it is that the LeadCheck® […]
