#DearTamara

#AskTamara: Does my Moscow Mule mug have unsafe levels of lead? (Video)

September 19, 2018September 19, 2018

#AskTamara Question: Does my Moscow Mule mug have unsafe levels of lead? Answer: If it has a yellow brass handle it very well may, and if the handle is soldered on it may have lead at the solder points too. Please watch the video to learn more! As always, thank you for reading, for watching and…

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

September 16, 2018July 3, 2023

9 Comments

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: Q. Is there lead in my vintage sex toys? Answer. Maybe. This one has 8,109 ppm Lead + Cadmium – 18 ppm

September 14, 2018February 12, 2020

#AskTamara Question: Is there lead in my sex toys? [I get this question ALL THE TIME! LOL!] Answer: As with most things (when it comes to lead) the most important factor in determining if your sex-toys might have lead (or other heavy metals or toxicants) is when they were manufactured! [When as in “which century” or…

#AskTamara: Q. Could A Vintage Leaded Brass Mouthpiece Cause Kidney Failure In A Trumpet Player? A. Maybe

September 8, 2018April 6, 2019

1 Comment

#AskTamara Question: Could a vintage leaded brass mouthpiece cause (or contribute to) kidney failure in a professional trumpet player? Answer: Maybe. The vintage (c. 1980s or earlier) trumpet mouthpiece shown here tested positive for a relatively high level of lead for leaded brass (22,200 ppm lead.) It is a bare leaded brass mouthpiece that is…

#AskTamara: Do modern Halloween masks have Lead? Does my Halloween gorilla mask have any toxic chemicals?

September 3, 2018October 4, 2023

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 to read the full XRF test results for Stockmar beeswax crayons (testing for Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic, etc.)

September 2, 2018October 2, 2020

15 Comments

#AskTamara Question: Do Stockmar beeswax crayons have lead (Pb)? Answer: Below is a full summary of the specific XRF Test Results for a newly purchased set of Stockmar Wachsmalblöcke Wax Block Beeswax Crayons (purchased in August of 2018 off of Amazon.com) This is new-in-box product. If you are in a rush to see the results, please…

Question: Do Crayola Crayons have Lead? Answer: Yes they do, at levels considered safe for toys but unsafe for food.

August 28, 2018November 16, 2022

15 Comments

Originally Published: August 28, 2018 Please note: This issue is not isolated to any specific year of crayons manufactured by Crayola nor is the issue (of heavy metal contamination) isolated to any specific type of Crayola crayons. Similar results have been found across all recent years of manufacture tested and across all types of Crayola’s crayon products. What did you find when you tested Crayola crayons for lead…

#AskTamara: I’m concerned that contractors at my Portland, Oregon elementary school are not using lead safe work practices. What should I do?

August 17, 2018May 15, 2024

5 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, LLC…

#AskTamara: Do Glass Dragon Tears Have Lead? (Aka: Squashed Marbles, Glass Drops or Mancala Stones?)

August 13, 2018March 12, 2020

6 Comments

#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: 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,…

#AskTamara: Q. Does my Instant Pot have Lead? A. Yes, some. Here are the test results for a 6-quart Instant Pot purchased on Amazon.

August 2, 2018January 3, 2024

107 Comments

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…

Q. Are Blue Willow Dishes Lead Free? A. Mostly No!

July 21, 2018May 31, 2023

50 Comments

Introduction (for those new to this website): Tamara Rubin is a multiple-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…

#AskTamara: What is Carbon Steel? (Morakniv, Made in Sweden Carving Knife)

July 8, 2018December 26, 2021

18 Comments

Originally published: July 8, 2018 Updated: December 26, 2021 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…

Walmart Jelly Shoes DO NOT HAVE LEAD [Says an expert (on Lead in consumer goods) who has personally tested them!]

June 27, 2018June 16, 2019

#AsKTamara: Do Walmart jelly shoes for toddlers have lead? Are jelly shoes sold at Walmart responsible for my child’s lead poisoning? For folks who want a graphic to easily share about the concern for lead with Walmart Jelly shoes for toddlers (a graphic you can share on Facebook or Twitter) we created this info-graphic. You…

Ask Tamara: What books do you read to your kids?

June 24, 2018June 24, 2018

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…

#AskTamara: What Does A Snack Look Like At Your House?

June 12, 2018

1 Comment

#AskTamara | #DearTamara | Kerr Jar | Kerr Jars | Kerr Mason Jar

I grabbed this post from Facebook, originally posted January 5, 2018. My social media followers like to me to share some simple vignettes from my life. There are critics who are CERTAIN I can’t possibly have a lead-free / lead-safe home (they insist I must have some lead in my home!) so I especially like…

#AskTamara: Guess Which of These Four White Glass Lamp Shades Has Lead and How Much!

April 26, 2018April 26, 2018

5 Comments

Please take a look at the four white glass lamp shades below and guess which ones have lead and at what levels! [This is a great “game” to play with your “newly lead-woke” friends!, Answers are posted below the final image.] Click here for more examples of lamps I have tested. Click here for more…

Ask Tamara: Do Starbucks mugs have high levels of Lead?

April 12, 2018December 19, 2023

16 Comments

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…

#AskTamara: Interesting note, melting point of lead…

December 27, 2017April 17, 2024

In response to an inquiry concerning the potential impact of high-temperatures (e.g. those that might be encountered over the lifetime of a typical frying pan) on leaded decorative coatings, brand markings, etc. found on the outside (or bottom) of some cookware, I asked the Internet two questions, the answers to which I found interesting when…

Are there Lead-free modern clear glass dishes? Some Lead-free dish choices.

December 23, 2017March 1, 2024

77 Comments

This is an ad-free article. To make a contribution and help us keep our most widely-read articles ad-free, click here. Thank you. Published: December 23, 20217 Updated: March 1, 2024 Question: Tamara are there any modern clear glass dishes that are also Lead-free? Answer: Yes! While vintage glassware is often positive for Lead, and…

#AskTamara: What detergent do you use to get rid of Lead dust in fabric items?

December 16, 2017December 19, 2023

17 Comments

This is an ad-free article. We have updated this article by removing advertisements to make it easier for you to read. If you would like to support our independent consumer goods testing by contributing (which will also help us keep our more widely-read articles ad-free), click here. Thank you! For those new to the…

#AskTamara: Are Pokeman cards lead-safe?

December 13, 2017March 16, 2019

5 Comments

Question: Are Pokemon cards lead-safe? Answer: Hell ya! [#ImAPokemonFan!] We happen to have several thousand Pokemon cards in our home. Luckily most were given to us, either via “Freecycle” or friends and family passing along their collections, so I haven’t had to buy many of these for my kids. My kids have been nuts about…

#AskTamara: What coffee maker do you use?

December 13, 2017March 12, 2019

39 Comments

I get this question A LOT! “Tamara, what coffee maker do you use?” A: Mostly we use a French press style coffee maker. However I do want to clarify that I have found lead in several French presses. Specifically (as with many measuring cups and other glass items with logos or marked writings on the…

#AskTamara: Cupcakes, Muffins and Legos! Oh My!

December 6, 2017December 18, 2017

1 Comment

#AskTamara: “What do you use to make muffins and cupcakes???!!!” Hello! Something that I think is really fun/interesting/exciting about my advocacy work is that I NEVER know which of my posts or responses is going to cause a stir on Facebook/Social Media! It’s always a surprise to me, even when – in hindsight – it…