Glass Marbles

Marbles from Dollar Tree Store test positive for Lead, Arsenic, Antimony and Cadmium (using XRF technology)

Marbles from Dollar Tree Store test positive for Lead, Arsenic, Antimony and Cadmium (using XRF technology)

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Introduction: Tamara Rubin is an independent advocate for consumer goods safety, and 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. She uses high-precision XRF testing (a scientific method used by the…

Green shooter marble (Marble King brand, previously sold & marketed as Lead-free): 1,375 ppm Lead (+ Cadmium too).

Green shooter marble (Marble King brand, previously sold & marketed as Lead-free): 1,375 ppm Lead (+ Cadmium too).

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Above photos shows a small Marble King brand green-swirl “cat’s eye” marble (randomly positive for 175 ppm Lead) next to a large Marble King brand green-swirl “cat’s eye” shooter (randomly positive for 1375 ppm Lead). Please note the level of Lead is not dependent on the size of the marble. – Photos by Avi B….

Avi’s 8th Grade Science Class Experiment: “How does the elemental composition of glass marbles affect their color?”

Avi’s 8th Grade Science Class Experiment: “How does the elemental composition of glass marbles affect their color?”

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Photos by Avi B. Rubin, age 14 (8th grade science, Sellwood Middle School) Below each marble image is the full XRF test result for that particular color (& style) marble. These marbles are all from the manufacturer Marble King. Important points to note: A Niton XL3T XRF instrument was used for this testing. All testing…

Giant Blue Glass Marble: 60 ppm Cadmium, 366 ppm Arsenic

Giant Blue Glass Marble: 60 ppm Cadmium, 366 ppm Arsenic

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This is a newer (c. 2015) large translucent blue glass marble with an iridescent rainbow finish. Given the nature of the way most colored glass is commonly produced, many marbles (and especially those with iridescent finishes) do have at least some level of detectable toxicants when tested with an XRF instrument. Some actually have quite…

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

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

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#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…

#Leaded: Vintage/Antique Glass Marbles, Yellow and White Swirl

#Leaded: Vintage/Antique Glass Marbles, Yellow and White Swirl

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Yellow and White Swirled Glass Vintage Marble: 2,364 ppm Lead! The amount of lead that is considered toxic in the substrate of a newly manufactured item intended for use by children is anything 100 ppm lead or higher. Tested in 2014 with an XRF instrument. Year of manufacture and brand: unknown. Once I learned that even…

#Leaded: Glass Pokeman Marble, c. 2013

#Leaded: Glass Pokeman Marble, c. 2013

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Pokeman Marble. Tested with an XRF instrument in 2013. Apprx 36,000 ppm lead (on the “painted” design). The amount of lead considered toxic (and therefore illegal) in a newly manufactured item intended for children (after 2010) is anything with paint or coating testing positive for lead at 90 ppm or higher. I don’t know what…