Leaded Mugs

Vintage Orange Hazel Atlas Milk Glass Mug: 24,100 ppm Lead + 1,546 ppm Cadmium + 39 ppm Mercury. Cadmium causes cancer. Lead is toxic at 90 ppm & up.

December 7, 2021December 7, 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…

Vintage Yellow Corelle Milk Glass Mug: 154,100 ppm Lead + 14,200 ppm Cadmium + 9,582 ppm Arsenic. Cadmium causes cancer. Lead is toxic at 90 ppm & up.

December 7, 2021

1 Comment

Here’s the general introduction I provide on a lot of my posts, for those who may be new to (or have possibly “stumbled upon”) my work – while just casually browsing, or conducting more serious research: Tamara Rubin is an internationally recognized, Federal-award-winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety and childhood Lead-poisoning prevention. She is also a mother…

Rae Dunn ceramic “Calm” coffee mug purchased at Marshall’s: 100 +/- 20 ppm Lead (within safe range for Lead)

June 20, 2020May 17, 2024

3 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…

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

13 Comments

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

1 Comment

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…

Portmeirion “The Botanic Garden Circa 1818” Coffee Mug, 1972: 49,700 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe) + Cadmium too.

August 19, 2019August 19, 2019

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I do not know the exact year of manufacture of this piece, however the markings indicated it was made in 1972 or later. It is a Portmeirion piece from the collection marked as “The Botanic Garden Circa 1818” and it also has the date “1972” on the bottom as well as the words “Susan Williams-Ellis”,…

One of my most disappointing finds recently: purple 2019 ForLife Q Tea Cup w Handle “lead-free” mug: 541 ppm Lead

May 23, 2019January 21, 2023

4 Comments

This story is a perfect example of why I hate recommending any mass-produced product!… Earlier this year (2019) I bought a set of these mugs [ ForLife Q Tea Cup with Handle 10 ounce purple mugs ] as a birthday gift for my good friend Carissa (because I had tested a cute unicorn mug of hers…

New (August 2018) Rae Dunn Ceramic “Gulp” Coffee Mug from Marshall’s: 108 +/- 18 ppm Lead (safe by all standards)

April 21, 2019January 24, 2024

3 Comments

To see more examples of Rae Dunn pieces Lead Safe Mama has tested, click here. Read more: Can I test my dishes with a LeadCheck swab? When tested with an XRF instrument, this ceramic “Rae Dunn Artisan Collection by Magenta” brand “Gulp” coffee mug (Made in China) purchased at a Marshall’s in Portland, Oregon for about…

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…

2018 ‘Natural Life” Rainbow Unicorn Mug: 891 ppm Lead + 218 ppm Cadmium [90 ppm Lead is unsafe, 40 ppm Cadmium]

October 20, 2018May 25, 2019

1 Comment

Well. I apologize in advance. I know I am going to break at least one heart with this post! [Just because something is in the shape of a unicorn does NOT mean that it is free of toxic chemicals, lol!] I tested several components of this mug, and stopped once I found high levels of…

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

September 19, 2018September 19, 2018

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#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…

Vintage Christmas “Made in USA” Corning Glass Mug: 28,200 ppm Lead! 90 ppm is unsafe for kids

September 13, 2018December 14, 2023

2 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 sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama, LLC — a…

Newly Purchased August 2018 Rae Dunn Ceramic Coffee Mugs from Marshall’s

August 22, 2018August 23, 2018

2 Comments

These ceramic Rae Dunn brand coffee mugs (Made in China) were purchased at a Marshall’s in Portland, Oregon for about $5 each in August 2018. Each has a slightly different finish, so one would expect them to each test slightly different in terms of an levels of lead found when texted with an XRF instrument….

Beatrix Potter 2007 Wedgwood China Peter Rabbit Baby Cup: 36,000 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe for kids)

July 8, 2018January 15, 2024

7 Comments

Beatrix Potter 2007 Wedgwood China Peter Rabbit Baby cup This little Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit Wedgwood China baby cup was purchased new in about 2007 and was tested with an XRF instrument (by me) in 2012. This cup belonged to my friend Chelsea. As with most of these Beatrix Potter cups produced by Wedgwood before the…

2014 Zak Designs Frozen Anna & Elsa Mug: 8,834 ppm Lead (90 ppm Lead is considered unsafe for children)

July 8, 2018February 18, 2024

1 Comment

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 sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama, LLC…

Tom & Jerry Vintage Milk Glass Christmas Mug: 37,100 ppm Lead + 943 ppm Cadmium (90 Lead + 40 Cadmium is unsafe for kids)

June 13, 2018December 7, 2023

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)…

#Leaded: 2017 Moscow Mule Copper Mug With Leaded Brass Handle

April 28, 2018September 19, 2018

Moscow Mule Mug: As high as 43,400 +/- 1,600 ppm lead in the brass handle. Solid lead attachment solder points for the handle too! Tested positive for lead with an XRF instrument and a LeadCheck swab! Here’s an affiliate link to purchase LeadCheck swabs to test your own Moscow mule mug at home: https://amzn.to/2L1QBs5 – but…

#Leaded: 2006 Starbucks Coffee Brand Ceramic Mug with Pear and Flower Design

April 12, 2018

2006 Starbucks Coffee Brand Ceramic Mug with Pear and Flower Design: Positive for lead (Pb) with levels as high as 304 ppm lead (+/- 37 ppm) when tested with an XRF instrument. This mug was negative for cadmium, arsenic and mercury. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in the substrate of an item manufactured…

#LeadFree: 2015 Starbucks Coffee Gold Peace Sign Espresso Mug

April 12, 2018

2 Comments

This Starbucks Coffee gold peace sign three ounce espresso mug (“Made in China”) tested negative (non-detect) for lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic when tested with an XRF instrument. Other Starbucks Coffee brand mugs have not fared so well over the years. Click here to see if I have tested your Starbucks Coffee mug! For more lead-free…

#Leaded: Logo Mug with Bible Verse

April 3, 2018January 14, 2020

Logo Mug: Hebrews 3:4 “…He that built all things is God.” Green Logo on white mug with gold trim (tested in 2014). The green logo on this is positive for lead at 54,800 ppm. The gold trim and white mug are both “ND” (non-detect) for lead. Pretty much all mugs with logos like this are…

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

April 3, 2018May 25, 2019

2 Comments

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…

#Leaded: Grey Dog Ceramic Coffee Mug

April 3, 2018April 3, 2018

2 Comments

The Grey Dog’s Coffee, Ceramic Mug (New York City). 19,100 ppm lead. Tested (in 2013) with an XRF instrument. I used to love this thick ceramic old fashioned style coffee mug from cafes & diners! Now I am always suspicious that any mug like this is likely to be very high lead. Given the ones…

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

April 3, 2018November 18, 2019

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…