Keystone Article

I heard that urine and hair tests for heavy metals (including Lead) were not considered “real” or “useful” results. Why is this?

I heard that urine and hair tests for heavy metals (including Lead) were not considered “real” or “useful” results. Why is this?

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  This is an ad-free article. To make a contribution to help us keep our most widely-read articles ad-free (and to help cover the costs of our work doing independent consumer goods testing), click here. Thank you. For those new to the Lead Safe Mama website: Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood…

Folks have been asking if Lead in vintage books is a real poisoning concern. Here’s my response.

Folks have been asking if Lead in vintage books is a real poisoning concern. Here’s my response.

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  This is an ad-free article. To make a contribution to help us keep our most widely-read articles ad-free, click here. Thank you. 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…

Does vintage and new functional pottery and dishware have unsafe levels of lead? Why is that a problem?

Does vintage and new functional pottery and dishware have unsafe levels of lead? Why is that a problem?

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Question: Does vintage and new functional pottery and dishware have unsafe levels Of lead? Why is that a problem? Originally Published: August 18, 2013 Updated: December 28, 2019 Answer: Pottery & dishes often contains lead. For decades potters have known about the potential hazards of lead in ceramics and glazes and many have chosen to specifically…

Question: Can you test supplements with an XRF? Answer: Not in most cases. [Read post for details].

Question: Can you test supplements with an XRF? Answer: Not in most cases. [Read post for details].

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Question: I get this question quite often: “Can you test supplements with an XRF instrument?” So I thought it was time for a blog post with the answer! 🙂 Answer: In most cases, it is neither appropriate nor meaningful to test supplements (or food products for that matter) for Lead (or other heavy metals) using…

Click the link to learn more! (Wait, what? Is this click bait? What are you selling?)

Click the link to learn more! (Wait, what? Is this click bait? What are you selling?)

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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,…

Trace Lead exposure can impact fertility, pregnancy, and birth outcomes: The story of how Lead impacted my son Charlie’s birth. I nearly died.

Trace Lead exposure can impact fertility, pregnancy, and birth outcomes: The story of how Lead impacted my son Charlie’s birth. I nearly died.

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  Original Title: Written on my youngest son’s 11th birthday (July 2019): Read the story of how Lead impacted his birth (during which I almost died). 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….

The “Sugar Packet Football Field” Illustration: How much Lead in dust does it take to poison a child?

The “Sugar Packet Football Field” Illustration: How much Lead in dust does it take to poison a child?

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  This is an ad-free article. We removed ads from this article 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 Lead Safe…

Blood Lead Testing: Please get everyone in the family tested, since you have been living in a house with high Lead paint.

Blood Lead Testing: Please get everyone in the family tested, since you have been living in a house with high Lead paint.

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    This is an ad-free article. To make a contribution to help us keep our most widely-read articles ad-free, click here. Thank you. 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…

My “magic” solution: fabric paint…

My “magic” solution: fabric paint…

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“What to do if your paint is chipping and you cannot afford to hire a painter right away…” This is my bathroom mirror (click on any of the images to see them full size). One of the hats I wear in my life is that I am a visual artist (painter, designer, costume designer, filmmaker)….

Home Depot? + The story of when (in 2007) I replaced the original Lead-painted windows in my historic (1905) home.

Home Depot? + The story of when (in 2007) I replaced the original Lead-painted windows in my historic (1905) home.

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Originally published on September 2, 2017 Historically, I have had “warm and fuzzy” feelings towards Home Depot in general. Over the years, in addition to shopping there for materials, shop tools and some home appliances, we have also used their Home Improvement Services for several projects. [Plus who doesn’t like credit with no interest for…

If a doctor says your baby’s Blood Lead Level is “normal” – get a new doctor. There’s no “NORMAL” level of LEAD in blood.

If a doctor says your baby’s Blood Lead Level is “normal” – get a new doctor. There’s no “NORMAL” level of LEAD in blood.

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Originally posted: January 7, 2017 Updated: June 07, 2021 I have written this post out of frustration over the rampant misinformation given to parents when they first get their children tested. Doctors often tell parents their child’s Blood Lead Level [“BLL”] is “normal” when the level is 1, or 2, or 3 — or even…

My favorite article ever about the impact of low-level Lead exposure

My favorite article ever about the impact of low-level Lead exposure

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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 used…

Cadmium Concerns

Cadmium Concerns

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Finding Lead in dishware is one thing, however I have also recently posted several posts where dishes have tested positive for Cadmium. While I will go in to more specifics below, I think we really ought to be questioning an industry that uses Cadmium at all (regardless of whether or not they test their items…

#AskTamara: What do you use to test for Lead? Can I do this myself at home? How much does it cost?

#AskTamara: What do you use to test for Lead? Can I do this myself at home? How much does it cost?

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Originally written on December 19, 2016 Updated, December 11, 2019 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,…

#AskTamara: The inspector is coming tomorrow, what do I need to know?

#AskTamara: The inspector is coming tomorrow, what do I need to know?

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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…

My Take on the “V” Word

My Take on the “V” Word

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This is an ad-free article. We have removed ads from this article 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 Lead Safe…

Ask Tamara: My parents said they used these vintage items their whole life and I shouldn’t worry. “Your kids will be fine…”

Ask Tamara: My parents said they used these vintage items their whole life and I shouldn’t worry. “Your kids will be fine…”

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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,…

#AskTamara: Can I infer my child’s Blood Lead Level (BLL) by testing myself?

#AskTamara: Can I infer my child’s Blood Lead Level (BLL) by testing myself?

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#AskTamara Originally published: June 18, 2014 QUESTION from Cristen (via Facebook) My ND suggested that if I was nervous about having my 3yo and 5yo lead tested (due to the finger stick…I’m pretty sure my 5yo would cry, and my 3yo would FREAK the hell out, major trauma…) that she would do the test on…

#AskTamara: Is there Lead in chocolate? Really? What about Cadmium?

#AskTamara: Is there Lead in chocolate? Really? What about Cadmium?

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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…