Mugs with Lead

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…

Green, Red & Blue Denby Mug, Made in England (sent in by Claire in MO): 145 ppm Lead (on interior glaze)

May 2, 2023November 5, 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…

Calamityware (2015) mug: 28 ppm Lead (safe by all standards) + 12,200 ppm Cobalt [a possible human carcinogen, per CDC] in the blue decorations. Click to read more.

February 4, 2022February 8, 2022

XRF test results below are for the exact item pictured. (It arrived broken – shipped to me by a reader) To learn more about the testing methodology employed for the test results reported on this website, click here. For a quick menu to explore more categories of tested items on this website, click here. For…

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

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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…

222 Fifth “Bonjour Paris” Jumbo Mug with Eiffel Tower – Made in Indonesia: 23 ppm Lead on the plain white (safe by all standards) & 5,802 ppm Lead on the logo mark.

December 14, 2021December 16, 2021

Published: Tuesday – December 14, 2021 How much Lead is “too much” Lead? In any item intended for use by children, Lead content must be below 90 ppm in the paint, glaze, or coating for the item to be legal (and any Lead present in the substrate of an item needs to be below 100 ppm), as regulated by…

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

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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…

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…

Harvest Hill Press mug: 10,300 ppm Lead on the purple flowers. 404 ppm Cadmium in the birdhouse.

October 29, 2020November 11, 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…

Harvest Hill Press (Maine) porcelain coffee mug with bald eagle design: 17,800 ppm Lead on black of the eagle.

October 29, 2020October 29, 2020

How much Lead is “too much” Lead? …including some “Fun Facts”: Newly-manufactured items (made today) are considered unsafe for children to use if they are finished with any paint or coating that is 90 ppm Lead or higher. Substrates that test positive for 100 ppm Lead (or higher) are considered unsafe for children. There is…

Unmarked mug with urns and vases: 39,400 ppm Lead on decorative elements (high Lead inside of mug too!)

October 29, 2020October 29, 2020

2020 | Mug | Mugs | Mugs with Lead

How much Lead is “too much” Lead? …including some “Fun Facts”: Newly-manufactured items (made today) are considered unsafe for children to use if they are finished with any paint or coating that is 90 ppm Lead or higher. Substrates that test positive for 100 ppm Lead (or higher) are considered unsafe for children. There is…

Harvest Hill Press (Maine) porcelain coffee mug with bear design: 17,300 ppm Lead on black of bear.

October 29, 2020October 29, 2020

How much Lead is “too much” Lead? …including some “Fun Facts”: Newly-manufactured items (made today) are considered unsafe for children to use if they are finished with any paint or coating that is 90 ppm Lead or higher. Substrates that test positive for 100 ppm Lead (or higher) are considered unsafe for children. There is…

Target Threshold Earthenware Easter Bunny mug: 217 ppm Lead in the black accents, 90 ppm on the white glaze

March 14, 2020February 21, 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 used…

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…

2019 “made in China” ceramic Ikea mug (21963-1 ): Lead-free glaze, 38 ppm Lead in the substrate. Safe by all standards.

February 23, 2020February 24, 2020

4 Comments

When tested with an XRF instrument the white glazed Ikea mug pictured here had the following two sets of readings: 1.) Ikea mug exterior glaze: 60 second test Zinc (Zn): 28,500 +/- 900 ppm Copper (Cu): 335 +/- 62 ppm Iron (Fe): 650 +/- 168 ppm Vanadium (V): 82 +/- 29 ppm Titanium (Ti): 204 +/- 46 ppm Zirconium (Zr): 15,600 +/- 500 ppm Continue reading below…

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…

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. • • • • • • ••…

Vistaprint Orca Coatings Photo Mug: 676 ppm Lead & 718 ppm Arsenic. 90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.

December 24, 2016February 19, 2020

4 Comments

Vistaprint brand custom photo mug by Orca Coatings, Made in China. Post originally published: December 24, 2016 Updated: February 19, 2020 When tested with an XRF instrument this mug came in with the following readings: Lead (Pb): 676 ppm Arsenic (As): 718 ppm How much Lead is “too much” Lead? The amount of Lead…