Leaded Glazes

China brands associated with “quality” aren’t necessarily safe. 2001 Lenox Butterfly Meadow pattern china: 63,700 ppm Lead.

January 12, 2021January 12, 2021

Introduction to Tamara Rubin (for those new to this website!) Tamara Rubin lives in Portland, Oregon and is a child health advocate, author, documentary filmmaker, and mother of four sons. Her young men are now 24, 18, 15, and 12. She has won multiple national awards for her Lead-poisoning prevention advocacy work (including two from U.S….

How much Lead is in YOUR new Starbucks mug? Golden Ceramic Mug: 15,700 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe for kids)

November 16, 2019November 29, 2023

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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. Introduction: 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…

2018 Starbucks Brown Ceramic Mug: 513 ppm Lead in the brown glaze – inside and outside. 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.

November 16, 2019November 16, 2019

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When tested with an XRF instrument, this 2018 brown-glazed Starbucks-brand mug (purchased new at a Starbucks store in Washington State in 2019) had the following readings: On a part with just the brown glaze: Lead (Pb): 513 +/- 29 ppm Barium (Ba): 2,820 +/- 101 ppm On the unglazed ceramic bottom of the mug: Lead…

Canadian Things – 2009 Starbucks Red & White Ceramic Mug: 1,005 ppm Cadmium (a known carcinogen) + 259 ppm Lead.

November 12, 2019November 12, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument this 2009 Red and White Starbucks brand mug (sent to me by a reader in Canada) had the following readings: On a part with just the white glaze: Lead (Pb): 259 +/- 23 ppm Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative Cadmium (Cd): 17 +/- 7 ppm Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative…

1995 Franciscan Desert Rose China, Made in England: 47,800 ppm Lead on the food surface! 90 is unsafe for a child.

July 25, 2019October 23, 2021

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When this Franciscan Desert Rose Pattern China (Made in the England by Johnson Brothers in 1995) was tested with an XRF instrument it came in at 47,800 +/- 1,400 ppm lead. It is negative for Cd (cadmium), As (arsenic) and Hg (mercury), however that is one heck of a lot of lead to be found…

Vintage Lenox Temper-Ware Fall Bounty Plate: 173,200 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe for children) + 1,775 ppm Arsenic

July 20, 2019July 20, 2019

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This vintage Temper-ware by Lenox (Made in the USA, Fall Bounty pattern) was a likely source of Lead exposure for a child. Mama sent me this plate to test after she first confirmed it was positive for Lead by testing it with a swab. While not all vintage dishes will test positive with a LeadCheck swab…

Vintage Ceramic Hull Brand (Made In USA) Coffee Cup: 299,800 ppm [30%!] Lead (when tested with an XRF instrument.)

January 25, 2019

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Ceramic “Hull” Made In USA “Oven Proof” Coffee Cup. When tested with an XRF instrument this cup had the following readings (each test done for a minimum of 60 seconds.) Exterior Brown of Cup Lead (Pb): 120,700 +/- 5,000 ppm Barium (Ba): 498 +/- 145 ppm Selenium (Se): 158 +/- 77 ppm Iron (Fe): 17,300…

Franciscan Desert Rose Earthenware China — c. 1941, Made in USA: 122,200 ppm Lead! (90 ppm is unsafe in kids’ items)

June 14, 2018September 24, 2023

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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…

Newly installed 2014 Kitchen Counter Tile: 368,400 ppm Lead. 90 ppm Lead (& up) is unsafe in items made for children to use.

December 5, 2017February 23, 2021

Newly installed kitchen counter tile: 368,400 ppm lead. Tested in 2014. Portland, Oregon. Tile is not regulated for total lead content (as detectable with an XRF.) This is kitchen tile, that your food sits on every.single.day. My solution is to always use cutting boards and never put utensils or food directly on tiled kitchen counters….

y. 2000 Starbucks Coffee “City Mug” Collector Series: 3,157 ppm Lead (>90 is unsafe for kids) + 496 ppm Arsenic too!

December 5, 2017November 16, 2019

Starbucks City Mug from the year 2,000. Made in Thailand. “City Mug” 3,157 ppm lead & 496 ppm Arsenic. To see a detailed summary of my concerns with Starbucks mugs, Click HERE. For #SaferChoices for your family, click here. If you would like to support my advocacy work (and this website) please consider making a contribution via…

Lenox American Home Collection Winter Greetings Dish: 61,513 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) + 9,214 ppm Arsenic

November 20, 2017July 20, 2019

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The Lenox dish pictured above came in with the following readings when tested with an XRF instrument: Lead (Pb): 61,513 ppm Arsenic (As): 9,214 ppm Click here to see more Lenox pieces that I have tested and posted here on this blog. The amount of lead that is considered unsafe in an item intended for…

Emile Henry Mixing Bowl, Purchased at Williams Sonoma c. 2014: 1,647 ppm Lead on the food surface.

January 14, 2017November 21, 2023

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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 Bauer Los Angeles Blue Mixing Bowl: 474,100 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe in children’s items.

January 14, 2017April 13, 2020

Blue vintage mixing bowl by “Bauer, Los Angeles”. When tested with an XRF instrument the bowl pictured had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 454,100 parts per million (ppm) on the outside Lead (Pb): 474,100 ppm on the inside (the FOOD SURFACE of the bowl!) Important to note, the bowl also tested negative with Lead Check…

Vintage Ceramic Hull Brand Mixing Bowl: 31,500 ppm Lead (when tested with an XRF instrument.)

January 14, 2017January 25, 2019

Ceramic “Hull” mixing bowl: 31,400 ppm lead. For LEAD FREE mixing bowl choices, click HERE. For more safer choices in kitchenware options, click here. Note: I am not saying this particular bowl will poison the people using it. I am saying that there is no reason for one of the most potent neurotoxins known to…

Pier One Yellow Glazed Ceramic Plate, Made in Portugal: 6,495 ppm Lead

January 14, 2017February 10, 2019

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Yellow Pier One plate/ bowl When tested with an XRF instrument this dish was positive for Lead at 6,495 ppm. This is actually fairly common both for Pier 1 pieces as well as for ceramic pieces that are made in Portugal. As a result I always stay away from Pier One for dishware personally. To see…

Small Blue Ceramic Le Creuset Custard Pot: 36,900 ppm Lead

January 7, 2017July 13, 2022

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Blue (outside glaze): 36,900 ppm Lead. Cream (inside glaze): 128 ppm Lead. Note: this is a REAL Le Creuset miniature pot, a ceramic version made to look like their cast iron ones. It is made to be used in the oven as a custard pot (to bake a single-serving custard in) or for similar purposes. It…

2012 Minnie Mouse Mug: 108,300 ppm Lead + 28,600 ppm Arsenic (90 ppm is considered unsafe 4 kids.)

December 24, 2016February 7, 2019

This Minnie Mouse mug was purchased new by me in Orlando at a gift shop in February of 2012. [I went there for the National Home Builders show when we were first working on filming my documentary on childhood lead poisoning.] The mug tested positive with an XRF instrument with the following readings: Lead (Pb):…