Mugs With Cadmium Archives

XRF test results for 2009 Design House Stockholm green glazed Starbucks mug sent in by Shelly in California

July 18, 2023December 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 by…

Garfield “Use Your Friends Wisely” McDonald’s mug: 103,600 ppm Lead (causes brain damage) + 7,314 ppm Cadmium (causes cancer)

July 19, 2022November 9, 2023

3 Comments

Continue reading below the images of additional cups/mugs/glassware we have tested. Each image below is a direct link to a separate post about that item containing its XRF test results. This post (about the Garfield mug) is a good overview to help provide context for all of these additional examples. The annoying ads you see on…

Handmade ceramic mug with white, blue & brown glaze: 39 ppm Lead in the substrate & 23 ppm on the food surface (safe by all standards).

December 17, 2021December 19, 2021

6 Comments

Reading #1) Unglazed white base-clay of mug 60-second reading Lead (Pb): 39 +/- 4 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 5 +/- 2 ppm Mercury (Hg): non-detect Bromine (Br): non-detect Chromium (Cr): non-detect Iron (Fe): 3,910 +/ 84 ppm Zinc (Zn): 212 +/- 9 ppm Titanium (Ti): 2,629 +/- 442 ppm Indium (In): 5 +/- 2 ppm Tin…

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

8 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…

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…

QVC Temp-tations Espresso Cup Christmas Ornaments (Xmas 2020): 2,924 ppm Lead + 981 ppm Cadmium — QVC tells customers to use them for cocoa with the grandkids!

November 18, 2021November 5, 2024

6 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…

February 2020 Shutterfly mug with red interior: 174 ppm Lead + 569 ppm Cadmium (a carcinogen known to cause cancer)

February 27, 2020November 27, 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…

2018 Chicago Christkindlmarket Kinder Club commemorative cocoa mug: 19,700 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe for kids)

February 11, 2020December 7, 2023

2 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…

2004 Laurel Burch Ceramic Mug by Wine Things of Sonoma: as high as 18,600 ppm Lead (834 ppm Lead on the inside.)

January 31, 2020January 31, 2020

3 Comments

Introduction (for those new to this website): Tamara Rubin is an independent advocate for consumer goods safety. 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. Tamara uses XRF testing (a scientific…

How toxic is YOUR Starbucks Christmas mug? This one has 1,037 ppm Cadmium — a carcinogen (over 40 ppm is illegal*)

November 16, 2019November 29, 2023

8 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…

Things from Canada — David’s Tea Lavender Ceramic Mug: 453 ppm Lead (interior) + 86 ppm Cadmium (exterior)

November 12, 2019August 7, 2024

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,…

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…

1978 Garfield “It’s not a pretty life but somebody has to live it” McDonald’s mug: 99,300 ppm Lead (causes brain damage) + 5,833 ppm Cadmium (causes cancer)

October 11, 2019September 29, 2023

37 Comments

Continue reading below the images of additional cups/mugs/glassware we have tested. Each image below is a direct link to a separate article about that item containing its XRF test results. This piece (about the Garfield mug) is a good overview to help provide context for all of these additional examples. • • • • • • ••…

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

August 19, 2019August 19, 2019

5 Comments

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”,…

1969 Avon Milk Glass Charlie Brown Mug: 40,600 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) + 1,576 ppm Cadmium (40 is illegal)

August 19, 2019December 7, 2023

Below are the full XRF readings (test results) for the vintage milk glass Avon branded Charlie Brown mug (from 1969!) pictured here. Blue painted area of decorative elements (image above) NOTE: areas of worn paint in image above! Lead (Pb): 39,900 +/- 900 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 503 +/- 26 ppm Chromium (Cr): 2,305+/- 147 ppm…

Small Blue Enamelware Camping Cup / Espresso Cup: 48 ppm Lead, 63 ppm Arsenic, 137 ppm Antimony – three neurotoxins.

May 27, 2019May 27, 2019

1 Comment

The pictures of this cup demonstrate how it is a perfect example of what regularly eventually happens to enamel cups with normal use. In this instance the chipping of the enamel is happening both on the outside and the inside of the cup (similar to the red one posted earlier). This cup (and it’s red…

Small Red Enamelware Camping Cup / Espresso Cup: 8,851 ppm Cadmium [≥40 ppm is illegal in Washington State]

May 27, 2019May 27, 2019

The pictures of this cup demonstrate how it is a perfect example of what regularly eventually happens to enamel cups with normal use. In this instance the chipping of the very-high-Cadmium-containing enamel is happening both on the outside and the inside of the cup. This cup clearly demonstrates why, in my opinion, enamelware should really…

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…

Ceramic mug; a perfect symbol of the beef I have with Habitat for Humanity: 28,500 ppm Lead + 379 ppm Cadmium.

May 20, 2019May 25, 2019

2 Comments

I was just talking about Habitat for Humanity on Facebook with someone earlier today. Habitat for Humanity has been on my S%^t list for a looooong time. I have been continually frustrated by the lack of ethics in their Habitat ReStore program — where across the country I have seen countless examples of old lead-contaminated…

1997 “Vintage” Campbell’s Soup Ceramic Mug: 11,400 ppm Lead + 1,251 ppm Cadmium [M’m! M’m! Good! NOT!]

March 14, 2019August 14, 2019

13 Comments

When tested with an XRF instrument the vintage (vintage is 20+ years officially, so yes – 1997 is vintage!) ceramic mug pictured here tested positive for the following metals when tested with an XRF instrument: White undecorated elements of mug (including inside of mug): Barium (Ba): 2,405 +/- 276 ppm Tin (Sn): 3,843 +/- 303…

Campbell’s Soups Salute America 1976 Ceramic Mug: 65,300 ppm Lead + 882 ppm Cadmium [mm ‘Lead is good food!’ NOT]

March 8, 2019May 25, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument the vintage ceramic mug pictured here (Campbell’s Soups Salute America” – Made in Brazil) tested positive for the following metals when tested with an XRF instrument: White undecorated elements of mug (including inside of mug): Lead (Pb): 21,600 +/- 700 ppm Zinc (Zn): 11, 100 +/- 400 ppm Copper…

2018 New Orleans Souvenir Mug: 16,700 ppm Lead, 109 ppm Cadmium.

January 13, 2019December 7, 2023

When tested with an XRF instrument this New Orleans souvenir mug (purchased in New Orleans in 2018, no mark or maker) was positive for high levels of Lead both inside and out. Continue reading below to see the full XRF test results for this mug. When testing is done with an XRF instrument, the amount…

C. 2016 “The Polar Express” Christmas Train Mug: 27,600 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe for kids), 358 ppm Cadmium

January 13, 2019November 5, 2024

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…

Does your baby’s cup have toxic heavy metals in it? This enamelware “baby cup” tested positive for 16,200 ppm Cadmium!

December 16, 2018March 8, 2024

9 Comments

Please note: This is NOT a post just about one red enamelware baby cup, it’s an overview of safe and unsafe baby cups I have found and how to make sure you choose a safe cup for YOUR baby! Please take the time to read the whole post (scrolling past all the images) and to…