Vintage Plastic

More than 4 years later and still no recall or public statement from Tupperware! Sign the petition!

October 31, 2023May 15, 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…

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

August 3, 2023August 4, 2023

2 Comments

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

10 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 by…

XRF test results for a vintage Fisher Price brand plastic toy lion from the circus train set (made in Hong Kong): positive for Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic and Antimony

October 18, 2022July 13, 2023

4 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)…

Vintage (1960s?) plastic cuff bracelet tests positive for high levels of Lead, using XRF technology

October 16, 2022January 15, 2024

October 16, 2022 — Sunday This cuff bracelet tested positive for a high level of Lead. It is possible this is a vintage piece from the 1960s or from the ’80s — since plastic jewelry was very popular in each of those eras (if it was pre-1960, I would expect the plastic to have a…

Little Tikes brand vintage plastic toy phone positive for extremely high levels of Cadmium (a known carcinogen)

October 16, 2022July 13, 2023

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)…

Vintage plastic toy thermometer positive for both Arsenic and high levels of Lead. This toy is not safe for children to play with

October 16, 2022July 13, 2023

6 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)…

XRF test results for vintage (1970s?) Fisher Price “Movie Viewer” toy: 5,087 ppm Lead, 249 ppm Arsenic & 55 ppm Cadmium.

July 12, 2022July 18, 2022

2 Comments

Published: July 12, 2022 – Tuesday While this vintage Fisher Price “Movie Viewer” toy is not marked with the date it was purchased at an estate sale where most of the toys were from the early-to-mid 1970s – so it seems like guessing “1970s” for the date of this toy is about right (as with…

XRF test results for vintage (1970s?) Fisher Price stacker toy… with ALL the bite marks! 4,289 ppm Lead, 517 ppm Arsenic & 18 ppm Cadmium

July 12, 2022April 24, 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…

Please DO NOT give toys from YOUR CHILDHOOD to your baby to play with. This 1984 Mattel baby rattle / teether tests positive for LEAD, ARSENIC and CADMIUM.

April 27, 2022November 21, 2023

2 Comments

Published: April 27, 2022 Things like this make me want to SCREAM from the rooftops — or do something really outrageous (go on Instagram in a bikini?) to generate attention so that everyone listens. IF you are reading this PLEASE share this with all of the new parents you know who were born in…

1997 Made in Mexico Vintage Fisher Price Stacking Car Toy with Animals: non-detect for Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Arsenic and Antimony.

February 10, 2022February 12, 2022

1997 Made in Mexico Vintage Fisher Price Stacking Car Toy with Animals 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 a quick video tutorial showing you how to…

Vintage plastic Tupperware blocks toy: non-detect for Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic, Mercury (likely has BPA given the age.)

November 21, 2021

1 Comment

Note: I do not know if these test results apply to all years of manufacture of this toy. The toy is not marked with the years of manufacture and there is no clue (from the markings) as to the year of manufacture. HOWEVER: the colors are distinctly different than the colors of vintage Tupperware plastic I have…

Hallmark Cards “You Are What You Eat” turkey pin (plastic): tested positive for Cadmium and Mercury in the metal pin back.

November 2, 2021November 2, 2021

Introduction: Tamara Rubin is a Federal award winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety and childhood Lead poisoning prevention. 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…

Vintage Rubbermaid 1988 Little Tikes school bus passenger doll: tested positive for Lead, Mercury, Cadmium and Arsenic!!! Please read the full article.

July 29, 2021July 13, 2023

4 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)…

Vintage dinner knife with red and yellow Bakelite handle — 760,500 ppm Lead in the join point

July 19, 2021December 26, 2023

1 Comment

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 1988 Little Tikes school bus passenger doll: 1,343 ppm Lead, 6,479 ppm Cadmium & 5,037 ppm Mercury! Please read the full article.

May 9, 2021July 13, 2023

2 Comments

You can see this little guy in the lower right-hand corner of the first image below. May 9, 2021 — Sunday 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…

How old are your child’s toys? Mega Bloks Large Yellow Building Block (c. 1990-2007?): 5,402 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe for kids) + 88 ppm Mercury

December 27, 2020December 28, 2020

9 Comments

Introduction to Tamara Rubin (for those new to this website!) Tamara Rubin lives in Portland, Oregon and is a child health advocate, author, documentary filmmaker, and mother of four sons. Her young men are now 24, 18, 15, and 12. She has won multiple national awards for her Lead-poisoning prevention advocacy work (including two from U.S….

1981 Colorforms Mickey & Minnie Mouse Doctor and Nurse pre-school playset: As high as 2,300 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe)

June 4, 2020January 23, 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…

1981 Colorforms Tummy Ache the Junk Food Game, hamburger piece: 11 ppm Lead (safe by all current standards… but…)

June 4, 2020January 23, 2024

1 Comment

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…

1981 Colorforms Tummy Ache the Junk Food Game, board with spinner: 29 ppm Lead (safe by all current standards… but…)

May 22, 2020January 23, 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…

Stop using your vintage Tupperware NOW. These measuring cups are positive for 2,103 ppm Lead + 250 ppm Arsenic.

December 28, 2019November 13, 2023

383 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…

Vintage (1980s?) Igloo Cooler: 2,860 ppm Lead INSIDE & 10,800 outside. 90 is unsafe. [Arsenic & Cadmium too!]

November 9, 2019December 3, 2021

11 Comments

When tested with an XRF instrument, this Igloo brand cooler (c. 1980s) had the following readings: The white plastic handles (image above): Lead (Pb): 576 +/- 17 ppm Arsenic (As): Non-Detect (Negative) Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect (Negative) Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect (Negative) Antimony (Sb): Non-Detect (Negative) Barium (Ba): 142 +/- 65 ppm Bromine (Br): 7 +/- 2…

Vintage Tupperware Cup. Year Made Unknown. Unlike other colors it is negative for Lead, Mercury, Cadmium & Arsenic.

June 18, 2019June 18, 2019

8 Comments

To see more Tupperware items I have tested, click here. When using an XRF instrument to test the cup pictured here (which is made of solid red plastic with no painted markings or decorations) it had the following readings: Barium (Ba): 162 +/- 90 ppm Zinc (Zn): 66 +/- 8 ppm Copper (Cu): 23 +/-…

Please avoid vintage Tupperware. This is a kid’s 6 oz. cup. It’s positive for 876 ppm Lead, 331 ppm Cadmium, + Arsenic.

May 23, 2019August 10, 2023

58 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…