Enamel

Test Results for Falcon Housewares White Enamel Dinner Plate, Purchased (in 2024) at a Scotland Nickel & Dime for £2.99

Test Results for Falcon Housewares White Enamel Dinner Plate, Purchased (in 2024) at a Scotland Nickel & Dime for £2.99

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  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,…

Black enameled crepe pan with wooden handle – #28, Made in France: Lead-free & Cadmium-free on the food surface.

Black enameled crepe pan with wooden handle – #28, Made in France: Lead-free & Cadmium-free on the food surface.

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I don’t know the brand of this piece. As soon as I hear back from the owner on this I will update the post. It appears (from the back mark writing and numbering system – as well as the “Made in France” mark) that it may be a Le Creuset piece, however I found similar…

New 2019 enamelware mug: 7,862 ppm Lead, 3,502 ppm Cadmium, 1,088 ppm Arsenic, & 1,031 ppm Antimony!

New 2019 enamelware mug: 7,862 ppm Lead, 3,502 ppm Cadmium, 1,088 ppm Arsenic, & 1,031 ppm Antimony!

3 Comments
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  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…

Vintage enamelware coffee pot toy: 620,400 ppm Lead. Yes, you read that right! 62% Lead! (90 ppm is unsafe for kids)

Vintage enamelware coffee pot toy: 620,400 ppm Lead. Yes, you read that right! 62% Lead! (90 ppm is unsafe for kids)

4 Comments
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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)…

Tiny dark-blue enamel decorated spoon: 388,800 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe for kids] & 1,117 ppm Cadmium (causes cancer.)

Tiny dark-blue enamel decorated spoon: 388,800 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe for kids] & 1,117 ppm Cadmium (causes cancer.)

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When tested with a high-precision XRF instrument, this spoon had the following readings: Blue enamel of the handle: Lead (Pb): 388,800 +/- 48,000 ppm Barium (Ba): 16,200 +/- 3,300 ppm Selenium (Se): 721 +/- 337 ppm Bromine (Br): 217 +/- 90 ppm Tin (Sn): 10,300 +/- 2,000 ppm Copper (Cu): 28,400 +/- 4,100 ppm Vanadium…

The Beatles Yellow Submarine pin: 447,400 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe for kids] + 6.766 ppm Cadmium (a carcinogen)

The Beatles Yellow Submarine pin: 447,400 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe for kids] + 6.766 ppm Cadmium (a carcinogen)

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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…

1960s Purple Enamelware Ashtray: 601,600 ppm Lead [more than 60%!] + 11,100 ppm Cadmium [This was my mother’s].

1960s Purple Enamelware Ashtray: 601,600 ppm Lead [more than 60%!] + 11,100 ppm Cadmium [This was my mother’s].

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This is just ONE reason that I don’t like enamelware. I have enormous sentimental attachment to this particular piece because it reminds me both of my mother and my childhood. It reminds me of all the craft fairs that we used to go to when I was young (where we would sell my mother’s pottery)…

Older Official Girlscout Badge / Pin: 39,000+/- 1,000 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.

Older Official Girlscout Badge / Pin: 39,000+/- 1,000 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.

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Enamel pins are often high Lead and the scouts have even had recalls for enameled items in recent years (link). In general I avoid any enamel (from cookware to jewelry) unless I know it has been tested and found to be Lead-free (and Cadmium-free too). The Lead levels are usually just too high to make…

Light Blue & White Lodge Cast Iron Enameled Dutch Oven: 48 ppm Lead + 35 ppm Arsenic

Light Blue & White Lodge Cast Iron Enameled Dutch Oven: 48 ppm Lead + 35 ppm Arsenic

25 Comments
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  I tested this light blue Lodge enameled cast iron dutch oven lid back in 2015 (at the Portland Green Festival!) With more recently tested items I capture a much more comprehensive panel of test results, however with this one I just captured the following two sets of readings (which are enough to support my…

Dark Blue & White Lodge Cast Iron Enameled Dutch Oven (c. 2006): 1,693 ppm Lead + 555 ppm Arsenic

Dark Blue & White Lodge Cast Iron Enameled Dutch Oven (c. 2006): 1,693 ppm Lead + 555 ppm Arsenic

9 Comments
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I tested this Lodge enameled cast iron dutch oven back in 2016. With more recently tested items I capture a much more comprehensive panel of test results, however with this one I just captured the following two sets of readings (which are enough to support my opinion that enameled cast iron should always be avoided…

September 2018 Boy Scout Neckerchief Slide Recall, Leaded Enamel

September 2018 Boy Scout Neckerchief Slide Recall, Leaded Enamel

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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…

A study of potential exposure to environmental lead resulting from porcelain enameled bathtubs

A study of potential exposure to environmental lead resulting from porcelain enameled bathtubs

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I had shared this link back in 2015, but the link is now dead and I cannot seem to find the original study anywhere. If you have time to help me look for it, please do and let me know what you find.  I would be happy to repost a full PDF of the study…

“Made in Poland” Yellow Enamelware Mug: 88 ppm Lead + 21,600 ppm Cadmium [75 ppm Cadmium is illegal in modern items in Denmark.]

“Made in Poland” Yellow Enamelware Mug: 88 ppm Lead + 21,600 ppm Cadmium [75 ppm Cadmium is illegal in modern items in Denmark.]

2 Comments
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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…

2017 Stumptown Coffee Roasters Enameled Mug: 5,192 ppm Lead. [90+ is unsafe in items used by kids.]

2017 Stumptown Coffee Roasters Enameled Mug: 5,192 ppm Lead. [90+ is unsafe in items used by kids.]

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Newer (2017) Stumptown Coffee Roasters Enameled Metal Mug. Tested with an XRF instrument. Positive for Lead at 5,192 ppm. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern/newly manufactured item intended for children is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint or coating. Mugs are not considered items intended for use…

Vintage stand hand citrus juicer: 2,254 ppm Lead on the bare metal food contact surface. 90 ppm is unsafe for children.

Vintage stand hand citrus juicer: 2,254 ppm Lead on the bare metal food contact surface. 90 ppm is unsafe for children.

8 Comments
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Vintage countertop stand hand juicer. No mark or maker noted. The corroding deteriorating gray metal part that touches the orange while it is being juiced was positive for lead at 2,254 ppm.  The white enamel part was positive for lead at 168 ppm. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in the paint or…

#Leaded: Vintage Unmarked White Enamel Cooking Pot

#Leaded: Vintage Unmarked White Enamel Cooking Pot

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Tested in 2014.  This pot was positive for 463 ppm lead when tested with an XRF instrument. Age and maker are unknown. Most vintage enamelware is high lead. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in an item intended for children is 90 ppm lead and higher (90 and up for coatings, 100 and…

Jewelry: Lady Bug Charm, Enamel

Jewelry: Lady Bug Charm, Enamel

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Lady bug charm: 17,100 parts per million (ppm) lead. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in an item intended for children is anything 90 parts per million lead or higher. Most vintage enamel pieces are very high lead, usually closer to 400,000 ppm lead!  With an item as small as this one – the…

Vintage blue speckled enamelware camping spoon: 412 ppm Lead in the food-surface enamel.

Vintage blue speckled enamelware camping spoon: 412 ppm Lead in the food-surface enamel.

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Post Published: October 14, 2017 Vintage enamelware camping spoon 412 parts per million (ppm) lead. As tested with an XRF instrument. How much Lead is too much Lead? The amount of lead that is considered unsafe in the coating (paint, glaze, etc.) of an item intended for children is 90 ppm lead. Dishware and vintage…

Vintage Metal Fondue Pot with Orange and Cream Colored Enamel: 15,300 ppm Cadmium (a known carcinogen.)

Vintage Metal Fondue Pot with Orange and Cream Colored Enamel: 15,300 ppm Cadmium (a known carcinogen.)

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Published: April 28, 2017 Updated: August 18, 2021 Enamel Fondue Pot: 15,300 ppm Cadmium. How much Cadmium is too much Cadmium? In the State of Washington there is a limit of 40 ppm Cadmium for cookware and dishes that may be used by children. This is the strictest Cadmium regulatory standard that I am aware…

Le Creuset Tea Kettle: 11,900 ppm Cadmium (Cadmium causes cancer & does not belong in our tea kettles!) + 103 ppm Lead

Le Creuset Tea Kettle: 11,900 ppm Cadmium (Cadmium causes cancer & does not belong in our tea kettles!) + 103 ppm Lead

6 Comments
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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)…

#CadmiumConcerns: Le Creuset Casserole

#CadmiumConcerns: Le Creuset Casserole

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Le Creuset Casserole.  red coating: 11,900 ppm cadmium. The exterior coating was non-detect for lead. Inside: non-detect for cadmium. Click here to read about #CadmiumConcerns Tested with an XRF —- #XRFTesting #LeadedDishes • #LeadSafeDishes For more safer choices in dishware options, click here.

The exterior enamel on this Le Creuset kettle was positive for 9,163 ppm Cadmium. Cadmium is a known carcinogen.

The exterior enamel on this Le Creuset kettle was positive for 9,163 ppm Cadmium. Cadmium is a known carcinogen.

4 Comments
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The exterior of this Le Creuset red enameled tea kettle was positive for 9,163 ppm Cadmium when tested with an XRF instrument. It is not possible to test the interior surface of most of these kettles with an XRF instrument without destroying the kettle, because the instrument does not fit in the opening of the kettle. The…