Toy Archives - Lead Safe Mama

XRF Test Results for Vintage 1972 Blonde Quick Curl Steffie Barbie Doll: Not Safe For Kids

August 3, 2023August 4, 2023

Published: August 3, 2023 Thursday Below are the full XRF test results for the Vintage Barbie Doll pictured. I do not know if this is an original / period vintage dress for this doll. The doll was purchased on eBay. Note: There was no warning on eBay – nor is one required – that this…

Is your Barbie safe for your kids to play with? A discussion on the concern for unsafe levels of Lead (& other toxicants) in vintage Barbie dolls

July 18, 2023September 28, 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…

XRF test results for antique Blue Willow style Transor Ware Japanese porcelain child’s tea set

October 22, 2022May 17, 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,…

XRF test results for porcelain child’s tea set purchased at a Cracker Barrel store in 2022

October 19, 2022May 17, 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,…

Vatming Toy Car (Made in Hong Kong): 154 ppm Lead + 56 Cadmium + 16,300 ppm GOLD + 3,401 ppm Platinum.

December 30, 2021January 1, 2022

XRF test results for the toy pictured Reading #1) Green painted area of toy 30-second reading Lead (Pb): non-detect Cadmium (Cd): non-detect Mercury (Hg): non-detect Bromine (Br): non-detect Chromium (Cr): non-detect Iron (Fe): 28,700 +/- 300 ppm Zinc (Zn): 712,200 +/- 1,900 ppm Titanium (Ti): 238,400 +/- 1,200 ppm Niobium (Nb): 808 +/- 34 ppm…

Red Antique Tootsie Toy Trailer Car (Made in Chicago): 94 ppm Lead + 73 Cadmium + 7,862 ppm GOLD! (Woah!)

December 30, 2021January 1, 2022

XRF test results for the toy pictured Reading #1) Red painted area of toy 30-second reading Lead (Pb): 94 +/- 34 ppm Cadmium (Cd): non-detect Mercury (Hg): non-detect Bromine (Br): non-detect Chromium (Cr): non-detect Vanadium (V): 1,530 +/- 237 Manganese (Mn) 302 +/- 68 ppm Copper (Cu): 809 +/- 74 ppm Zinc (Zn): 971,200 +/-…

Blue Antique Tootsie Toy Trailer Car (Made in Chicago): 77 ppm Lead + 107 Cadmium + 5,246 ppm GOLD! (Woah!)

December 30, 2021January 1, 2022

XRF test results for the toy pictured Reading #1) Blue painted area of toy 30-second reading Lead (Pb): 77 +/- 24 ppm Cadmium (Cd): non-detect Mercury (Hg): non-detect Bromine (Br): non-detect Chromium (Cr): non-detect Manganese (Mn) 82 +/- 50 ppm Iron (Fe): 219 +/- 47 ppm Copper (Cu): 1,402 +/- 65 ppm Zinc (Zn): 927,200…

Vintage Tonka metal dune buggy style toy car with yellow body paint. The Lead is in the TIRES! 14,300 ppm! (90 & up is unsafe for kids)

December 27, 2021July 13, 2023

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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)…

Cyclone Boys faux Rubik’s cube: Lead-free, Cadmium-free, Arsenic-free, Antimony-free.

June 27, 2020February 10, 2021

Logo area on white plastic: Barium (Ba): 1,040 +/- 80 ppm Selenium (Se): 43 +/- 13 ppm Bromine (Br): 12 +/- 5 ppm Tin (Sn): 19 +/- 11 ppm Zinc (Zn): 8,122 +/- 126 ppm Iron (Fe): 8,663 +/- 153 ppm Vanadium (V): 355 +/- 165 ppm Titanium (Ti): 8,398 +/- 196 ppm Yellow plastic:…

ABC Trading animatronic pink polka dot toy dog: 69 ppm Lead + 337 ppm Antimony.

June 8, 2020December 4, 2022

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Introduction: Tamara Rubin is an 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 scientific method used by…

Tiny Schleich bunny made in Tunisia: Lead-Free! This is generally a very safe brand (from a Lead-perspective at least!)

March 11, 2020March 11, 2020

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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 XRF testing (a scientific…

c. 1989 Flexibear Flexiblocks plastic toy: 1,735 ppm Lead. 90 ppm & up is considered unsafe/illegal in modern toys.

February 24, 2020March 22, 2020

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…

Vintage (1990s?) TYCO plastic building blocks (Duplo-style): Lead-free, Cadmium-free, Arsenic-free!

February 23, 2020February 23, 2020

Green TYCO building block – 30 seconds Copper (Cu): 150 +/- 15 ppm Nickel (Ni): 13 +/- 8 ppm Iron (Fe): 55 +/- 20 ppm Titanium (Ti): 2,167 +/- 295 ppm Continue reading below the image. Red TYCO building block – 30 seconds Barium (Ba): 189 +/- 108 ppm Bromine (Br): 19 +/- 3 ppm Iron…

Blue vintage (1990s?) Duplo building block – by Lego: Lead-free, Cadmium-free, Arsenic-free, Mercury-free!

February 23, 2020

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Blue Block – 30 second reading Barium (Ba): 198 +/- 108 ppm Copper (Cu): 538 +/- 28 ppm Iron (Fe): 38 +/- 24 ppm Titanium (Ti): 8,650 +/- 480 ppm This piece is discussed in detail on this video – link here. I will update this post shortly, but just wanted to start by making sure the XRF readings were…

Green shooter marble (Marble King brand, previously sold & marketed as Lead-free): 1,375 ppm Lead (+ Cadmium too).

February 10, 2020March 26, 2021

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Above photos shows a small Marble King brand green-swirl “cat’s eye” marble (randomly positive for 175 ppm Lead) next to a large Marble King brand green-swirl “cat’s eye” shooter (randomly positive for 1375 ppm Lead). Please note the level of Lead is not dependent on the size of the marble. – Photos by Avi B….

2019 light up unicorn bath toy. Negative for Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Arsenic & Antimony in all accessible components.

November 22, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument this little unicorn bath light up toy (link*) had the following reading: 1) Pink hair of unicorn: Lead (Pb): Non-Detect / Negative Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect / Negative Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative Antimony (Sb): Non-Detect / Negative Barium (Ba): 62 +/- 39 ppm Bromine…

2019 light up mermaid bath toy. Negative for Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Arsenic & Antimony in all accessible components.

November 22, 2019November 22, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument this little mermaid bath light up toy (link*) had the following reading: 1) Pink tail of mermaid Lead (Pb): Non-Detect / Negative Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect / Negative Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative Antimony (Sb): Non-Detect / Negative Barium (Ba): 118 +/- 40 ppm Bromine…

1986 Dor Mei Toys Spinosaurus: 5,341 ppm Lead. 90 ppm and up is considered illegal and unsafe for toys made today.

August 30, 2019August 30, 2019

The amount of Lead that is considered unsafe and illegal in a modern item manufactured for use by children today is anything 90 ppm or higher in the paint or coating or anything 100 ppm or higher in the substrate. As a result of the high levels of Lead found in this 1986 “Dor Mei”…

Another reason to avoid vintage toys – 1985 Imperial Toys T-Rex: 7,872 ppm Lead. This would be illegal if made today.

August 30, 2019December 26, 2021

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The amount of Lead that is considered unsafe and illegal in a modern item manufactured for use by children today is anything 90 ppm or higher in the paint or coating or anything 100 ppm or higher in the substrate. As a result of the high levels of Lead found in this 1985 “Imperial Toys”…

Another reason to avoid vintage toys — toy triceratops: 6,298 ppm Lead. This would be illegal if made today.

August 30, 2019July 13, 2023

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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)…

1990 Mirage Studios Playmates Toys Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Figurine: Lead Free, Cadmium Free, Arsenic Free!

May 28, 2019

Every single color of this little Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figurine was tested and not one of them was positive for anything bad (from the standpoint of XRF detectable metals discoverable in consumer goods mode). This figurine from 1990 was negative / non-detect for the following metals when tested with an XRF instrument: Cadmium Lead…

1988 Mirage Studios Playmates Toys (Made in Macao) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Raphael Figurine: Lead Free

May 28, 2019May 28, 2019

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Every single color of this little Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figurine was tested and not one of them was positive for anything bad (from the standpoint of XRF detectable metals discoverable in consumer goods mode). This figurine from 1988 was negative / non-detect for the following metals when tested with an XRF instrument: Cadmium Lead…

Larami Toys brachiosaurus toy dinosaur: 2,213 ppm Lead, 2,721 ppm Antimony. This toy would be illegal if made today.

April 18, 2019April 18, 2019

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Scroll down to see additional images, including picture of Dino next to Lego-guy for size! The amount of Lead that is considered unsafe and illegal in a modern item manufactured for use by children today is anything 90 ppm or higher in the paint or coating or anything 100 ppm or higher in the substrate….

Avi’s 8th Grade Science Class Experiment: “How does the elemental composition of glass marbles affect their color?”

March 27, 2019June 18, 2019

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Photos by Avi B. Rubin, age 14 (8th grade science, Sellwood Middle School) Below each marble image is the full XRF test result for that particular color (& style) marble. These marbles are all from the manufacturer Marble King. Important points to note: A Niton XL3T XRF instrument was used for this testing. All testing…