Silver

Sterling silver wedding band style ring: 938,700 ppm Silver & 52,000 ppm Copper (+ Tin, Vanadium & Barium.)

March 7, 2022December 3, 2023

XRF test results for the ring pictured. This is a really good example of typical total metals content for 925-marked modern Sterling Silver. The two main ingredients in modern Sterling are Silver [usually at least 925,000 ppm — hence the “925” mark, which translates to 92.5% of the total make up of metals for the item],…

1917 Liberty Silver Half Dollar: 365 ppm Lead + 203 ppm Mercury (899,400 ppm Silver). Not a good fidget for kids.

January 10, 2022December 3, 2023

Silver coin 60-second reading Lead (Pb): 365 +/- 43 ppm Cadmium (C): non-detect Mercury (Hg): 203 +/- 54 ppm Bromine (Br): 19 +/- 11 ppm Chromium (Cr): non-detect Vanadium (V): 794 +/- 522 Copper (Cu): 95,300 +/- 600 ppm Zinc (Zn): 100 +/- 59 ppm Silver (Ag): 899,400 +/- 1,600 ppm Tin (Sn): 2,920 +/-…

Moogco Sterling Silver Protective Nursing Cups: very pure Silver (938,000 ppm Silver!) Did you know that historically these were made of LEAD?!

December 3, 2021December 3, 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 by…

Lobster clasps on necklaces often have unsafe levels of Lead — this is concerning, as kids often put their necklace chain in their mouth.

July 3, 2021December 3, 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…

2010 Lenox Opal Innocence china (Made In USA): 68 ppm Lead on the food surface. This is safe by all standards.

March 11, 2020May 3, 2021

Posted: Wednesday, March 11, 2020 Introduction: Tamara Rubin is a independent advocate for consumer goods safety, and 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. She uses high-precision XRF testing (a…

Sterling silver Wendell Manufacturing Co. baby spoon, c. 1895-1900: 1,677 ppm Lead in the handle. 90 is unsafe.

March 1, 2020March 1, 2020

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First I just want to say that I LOVE finding resources like this (link here) online! I was looking to identify the back mark of the little antique sterling silver spoon pictured here on this post and this “Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks” had not only a photo of the mark with the name of…

1960s Sango brand (made in Japan) child’s teacup: 2,323 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe for kids] + 292 ppm Arsenic.

November 22, 2019March 20, 2020

When tested with an XRF instrument this Sango teacup (made in Japan) had the following readings: 1) Test focused on silver banding on handle: Lead (Pb): Negative / Non-Detect Mercury (Hg): Negative / Non-Detect Cadmium (Cd): Negative / Non-Detect Arsenic (As): Negative / Non-Detect Antimony (Sb): Negative / Non-Detect Gold (Au): 755 +/- 64 ppm…

Mikasa Platinum Matrix AN060 Design (Made in Indonesia) Bone China Dish: 56 ppm Lead. Safe by all standards.

November 21, 2019November 21, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument, this Mikasa “Platinum Matrix” design bone china plate (pictured here) had the following readings: White stripes on food surface of dish: Barium (Ba): 135 +/- 48 ppm Tin (Sn): 57 +/- 16 ppm Zinc (Zn): 1,286 +/- 83 ppm Iron (Fe): 1,744 +/- 213 ppm Bismuth (Bi): 36 +/-…

Vintage Tiny Collectable Rolex Bucherer of Switzerland Spoon: 975,000 ppm Silver (more pure than 925), no LEAD!

June 18, 2019

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When tested with an XRF instrument this tiny vintage “Rolex” spoon by Bucherer of Switzerland turned out to actually be fine silver! This was a surprise to me as I have found Lead in a LOT of different collectable miniature spoons like this. Here’s the full XRF reading set for this Rolex spoon (when tested…

Silver Bordered Vintage China Mug / Tea Cup: 104,700 ppm Lead [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]

December 3, 2017March 18, 2019

Mug with “silver” border (where your lips would go!) It turns out the “silver” is achieved by using Leaded glaze! Inside of cup is 845 ppm lead, “silver” border is 104,700 ppm Lead. Tested with an XRF instrument in 2014. I apologize that I did not capture information about the maker or pattern on this…

Vintage 1950s Silverware, Blossom Time: Lead-free! Vintage (but not antique!) sterling silver is generally a safe choice.

March 28, 2017March 4, 2020

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Originally written: March 28, 2017 Updated: March 3, 2020 A little personal story about the silverware pictured here. My husband’s mother died of a very aggressive form of lung cancer when he was just 18 years old (c. 1976.). As a result, I never met my mother-in-law – and my children never had her as…

#XRFTesting: My Little Pony Necklace

March 3, 2017March 28, 2017

My Little Pony Necklace: Lead Free, Cadmium Free, Mercury Free, Arsenic Free! All components tested. Newly made / recently made costume jewelry made and sold as intended for children is usually lead free, but not always. Note: when making choices for children, please avoid ALL vintage costume jewelry as it is nearly always VERY HIGH…

#AskTamara: Q. Does my child’s trumpet mouthpiece have unsafe levels of lead? A. “Yes, most do.” Click the image to learn more.

January 30, 2017December 3, 2023

34 Comments

#AskTamara – Question: Does my child’s trumpet mouthpiece contain unsafe levels of lead? – Answer: In most cases, yes. – Please continue reading below for more information. Leaded Trumpet Mouthpieces. Only one of the mouthpieces pictured here has no lead. – Trumpet mouthpieces (and mouthpieces on any brass instruments for that matter) are not regulated…

#LeadFreeChoices: Sterling Earrings

January 14, 2017January 14, 2017

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Sterling silver earrings: 943,800 parts per million silver! From Bosnia. No Lead. Click here for guidelines for #SaferChoices: Solid silver jewelry marked “925” – with natural stones (not crystals.)

#SaferChoices: How to choose jewelry that is Lead-free, Cadmium-free & otherwise safe from a toxicant perspective

January 14, 2017December 7, 2023

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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…

Jingle bell bracelet (no mark or maker): 889 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe for kids. Stick with sterling silver if you can.

January 14, 2017December 25, 2019

Originally posted: January 14, 2017 Updated: December 25, 2019 Jingle bell bracelet: 889 ppm Lead. (otherwise mostly zinc, copper and nickel.) Tested with an XRF instrument. The amount of Lead in jewelry marketed and sold as intended for use by adults is not regulated. Kids’ items are considered toxic/unsafe if over 90 ppm Lead in…

#LeadedJewelry: India

January 14, 2017December 3, 2023

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Jewelry from India: 335,500 parts per million lead!!! Tested with an XRF Click here for #SaferChoices: Solid silver jewelry marked “925” – with natural stones (not crystals.)