Made in U.S.A.

Vintage Blue Pyrex Glass Mugs: 71,800 ppm Lead + 697 ppm Arsenic [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]

October 28, 2018May 25, 2019

Vintage Pyrex Mugs: The blue paint on these mugs tested positive for the following elements at the following levels (with a one-minute test, using an XRF instrument): Lead (Pb): 71,800 +/- 2,200 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 697 +/- 43 ppm Arsenic (As): ND Mercury (Hg): ND Platinum (Pt): 1,333 +/- 207 ppm Gold (Au): 709 +/-…

New (2018) “The Grate Plate” Garlic Grater (Made in USA): 102 ppm Lead + 33 ppm Cadmium, safe by all standards!

October 4, 2018November 22, 2019

2 Comments

This is a little ceramic dish used for grating garlic, ginger, peppers, nutmeg, carrots, shallots, chocolate, citrus zest, hard cheeses, etc. The conclusion I would draw from the XRF test results listed below is that the glaze on this item appears to be lead-free and is masking the (very trace levels of) lead in the base…

I found cadmium (Cd, a carcinogen) in Origins makeup (from 2017), using an XRF instrument.

September 24, 2018September 24, 2018

1 Comment

I found cadmium (Cd) in “Origins” makeup (from 2017), using an XRF instrument. Click here to learn more about XRF testing. When I tested this makeup [Origins “Pinch Your Cheeks” Powder Blush] I was quite surprised to find that it tested positive for cadmium at levels that I would consider more than “trace” for a…

This vintage (c. 1940s?) Hanson Nursery Scale captures the scope of the historic pervasive footprint of lead paint in one single simple object.

September 24, 2018September 24, 2018

This vintage (c. 1940s?) Hanson Nursery Scale captures the scope of the historic pervasive footprint of lead paint in one single simple object… …a BABY SCALE painted with leaded paint. Really I don’t know that any more needs to be said about this. The paint on this piece was just about 4,500 ppm lead when…

#AskTamara: Q. Is there lead in my vintage sex toys? Answer. Maybe. This one has 8,109 ppm Lead + Cadmium – 18 ppm

September 14, 2018February 12, 2020

#AskTamara Question: Is there lead in my sex toys? [I get this question ALL THE TIME! LOL!] Answer: As with most things (when it comes to lead) the most important factor in determining if your sex-toys might have lead (or other heavy metals or toxicants) is when they were manufactured! [When as in “which century” or…

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…

#AskTamara: “Do you recommend Corning Visionware?” No, and here’s why.

September 13, 2018November 15, 2023

40 Comments

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…

Bauer Vintage Celadon Pottery, Los Angeles: 210,800 ppm Lead (21%!). Context: 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.

August 5, 2018August 11, 2019

4 Comments

This is a set of Bauer Vintage Celadon Pottery, Made In Los Angeles and purchased at an antique store in Portland, Oregon in 2017. When tested with an XRF instrument each of the pieces tested positive for the elements at the levels shown below. Note: the lead levels below are VERY HIGH, and I would…

Walmart Expert Gardener Light Duty Garden Hose New (2017), Made In USA: 52 ppm Lead. Safe by all standards.

July 8, 2018April 26, 2020

2 Comments

This “Expert Gardener” “Light Duty” garden hose was tested new on the shelf in Walmart in 2017. Only the plastic part of the hose was tested and it was positive for lead (Pb) at 52 parts per million. 52 ppm lead is a relatively low level of lead, but I would still have concerns for…

#AskTamara: What is stainless steel? (This U.S.A. made Lead-free hose has all stainless steel hardware!)

July 3, 2018December 16, 2023

13 Comments

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)…

Red Vintage Pyrex Food Storage Container With lid: 310,000 ppm Lead + 14,200 ppm Arsenic + 33,200 ppm Cadmium

June 26, 2018January 5, 2024

16 Comments

This is an ad-free article. We have removed advertisements 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…

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

39 Comments

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…

Franciscan Ware Potteries (c. 1948) Franciscan Ivy Pattern Serving Tray: 304,000 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe]

June 14, 2018September 1, 2019

4 Comments

This is a Franciscan Potteries vintage “Ivy” pattern serving tray that I got at the Good Will Bins a while back (to add to my “Museum of Lead” collection!) The interesting thing about glazes (especially on pieces that are handmade or hand-painted) is that the levels of lead can vary significantly across the surface of…

Modern Homer Laughlin China Fiestaware Christmas Tree Mug, Made In USA: 23 +/- 12 ppm Lead (Safe by all standards)

June 14, 2018January 31, 2020

9 Comments

When tested with an XRF instrument the Christmas tree on this Homer Laughlin Fiestaware “Made In The U.S.A”. mug was non-detect (ND) for Lead (Pb). The Christmas tree area did test positive for cadmium (Cd) at 61 +/- 9 ppm. The bottom of mug was also had the following XRF readings: Lead (Pb): 23 +/- 12…

Vintage Spring Blossom Green “Crazy Daisy” Pyrex cup: 39,300 ppm Lead + 833 ppm Cadmium (90 ppm Pb is unsafe for kids!)

May 5, 2018January 5, 2024

7 Comments

Vintage Pyrex Spring Blossom Green “Crazy Daisy” patterned cups 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…

A short story of a small vintage ceramic bowl and a boy from Wisconsin who was poisoned.

April 23, 2018April 26, 2018

15 Comments

I originally shared this in October of 2013, but given how much we have learned about dishware and lead since then, I thought it was an important one to re-share! I have quite a few friends in Wisconsin and have been invited several times to present to groups there (including presentations in Milwaukee, Madison and…

Vintage (c. 1972) “Butterfly Gold” Pyrex Casserole Dish: 87,000 ppm Lead. [Context: 90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]

April 19, 2018June 3, 2019

2 Comments

Vintage Pyrex “Butterfly Gold” casserole dish, c. 1972. The mustard and white paint on this vintage Pyrex casserole dish tested positive for the following elements at the following levels (with a one-minute test, using an XRF instrument): Lead (Pb): 87,000 +/- 2,900 ppm Cadmium (Cd): ND / Non-Detect (Negative) Arsenic (As): ND / Non-Detect…

Vintage Pyrex Teacup With Pink Stripe: 249,700 ppm Lead + 12,800 ppm Cadmium + 14,300 ppm Arsenic

March 21, 2018March 16, 2019

Vintage white milk glass “Double Tough” Pyrex teacup, with pink painted stripe. Made in U.S.A. Tested positive for Lead with an XRF Instrument. Pink Stripe: Lead (Pb): 249,700 +/- 19,000 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 12,800 +/- 1,000 ppm Arsenic (As): 14,300 +/- 1,600 ppm Mercury (Hg): ND (non-detect) To learn more about XRF testing, Click Here….

Vintage Milk Glass Corning Teacup: 804 ppm Lead

January 21, 2018November 11, 2018

This vintage milk-glass “Made in USA” Corning brand tea cup tested positive for lead when tested with an XRF instrument at 804 ppm lead in the white (undecorated) milk glass component of the cup. Tested in 2014. In 2018 the amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern/newly manufactured item intended for children…

#Leaded: Vintage Tepco Ceramic Bowl

December 30, 2017December 30, 2017

2 Comments

Vintage “Tepco” “Made in USA” ceramic bowl. Tested positive for lead at 28,100 ppm lead. Tested with an XRF instrument in 2014. Would you like to see more test results like this? Please help me rent (or eventually buy!) an XRF instrument to continue this independent consumer goods testing and advocacy work. You can support…

1966 Peter Pan ’45 of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer: 3,777 ppm Lead

December 28, 2017December 28, 2023

1 Comment

1966 Peter Pan brand Christmas record: Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer Paper sleeve: Lead-free Vinyl record: 3,777 ppm Lead For context, the amount of Lead considered toxic in a newly manufactured item made for and intended to be used by children is 90 ppm Lead in the coating and 100 ppm Lead in the substrate….

#LeadSafe: Pfaltzgraff Dish, Made In USA

December 24, 2017December 24, 2017

28 Comments

This Pfaltzgraff, Made in the USA dish (age unknown, pattern name unknown, tested in 2014) tested positive for lead at 60 parts per million (ppm) when tested with an XRF instrument. This level of lead is considered safe by all standards, American and European. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in the paint…

#LeadFree: 1958 New Year Baby Kewpie Celluloid Doll “Irwin” #Cadmium

December 19, 2017May 29, 2024

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

#Leaded: “Vintage”? 1980s? Corning Mug With Floral Pattern

December 19, 2017January 28, 2018

2 Comments

While I don’t know the exact year of manufacture for this Corning mug with a floral pattern on the side, there is an “81” on the bottom and it has a color scheme that is also consistent with things like this from the early 1980s. The decorative element on this Corning mug tests positive for…