Vintage

Press Release: Toxicants (Lead, Cadmium, Mercury & Arsenic) Found In Vintage Tupperware

March 16, 2019March 16, 2019

Press release is the second image, below the embedded Facebook post. Please share with any press contact you might have. Thank you. (Click the image of the press release to see the full-size PDF with clickable links.) For all of the posts related to this press release, click here. _____________________________________ Original Facebook Post: _______________________________________________________

Why do VINTAGE plastics (like Fisher Price & Tupperware) often contain Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, & Cadmium?

March 14, 2019November 14, 2022

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Tupperware | Vintage | Vintage Fisher Price | Vintage Plastic | Vintage Tupperware

For starters, please consider reading this linked study (click the image below) which discusses this concern in detail: There are two reasons vintage plastics often have Lead: In brightly-colored vintage plastics, the metallic toxicants (Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, and Cadmium) are often used as components of colorants in the plastics. I have also found that vintage flexible/pliable…

Vintage Tupperware BROWN bowl: Negative for Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, and Arsenic!

March 12, 2019August 10, 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 Tupperware YELLOW bowl: 2,677 ppm Cadmium + 15 ppm Mercury (both are extremely poisonous to humans)

March 12, 2019August 10, 2023

5 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 Tupperware GREEN bowl: 2,780 ppm Lead + 234 ppm Arsenic (both metals are poisonous to humans)

March 12, 2019August 10, 2023

22 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…

Oh the irony! Vintage metal Band-Aid tin, painted in Lead Paint! 2,193 +/- 147 ppm Lead! [90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]

March 10, 2019November 29, 2019

1 Comment

When tested with an XRF instrument this vintage Band-Aid box had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 2,193 +/- 147 ppm Chromium (Cr): 1,022 +/- 126 ppm Zinc (Zn): 2,897 +/- 267 ppm Copper (Cu): 433 +/- 172 ppm Iron (Fe): 851,800 +/- 1,800 ppm Titanium (Ti): 128,600 +/- 1,200 ppm Cobalt (Co): 8,264 +/- 1,305…

Duchess Bone China Saucer, Made In England – Rose Pattern: 70,900 ppm Lead

November 4, 2018

Please click the link below for help finding safer choices for your holiday table. Duchess Bone China Saucer, Made In England – Rose Pattern: 49,000 ppm Lead When tested with an XRF instrument, this dish had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 70,900 +/- 2,300 ppm Mercury (Hg): Negative/Non-Detect Arsenic (As): Negative/Non-Detect Cadmium (Cd): Negative/Non-Detect Barium (Ba): 269…

Vintage Queen Anne “Country Gardens” Pattern Bone China Teacup: 81,300 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]

November 4, 2018March 18, 2019

Please click the link for help finding safer choices for your holiday table. Vintage Queen Anne “Country Gardens” Pattern Bone China Teacup. Made in England. When tested with an XRF instrument, this teacup had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 81,300 +/- 2,800 ppm Mercury (Hg): Negative/Non-Detect Arsenic (As): Negative/Non-Detect Cadmium (Cd): Negative/Non-Detect Barium (Ba): Negative/Non-Detect Chromium (Cr): Negative/Non-Detect…

Vale Saucer Made in Longton England: 54,600 ppm Lead. 90 ppm Lead is considered unsafe in items used by kids.

November 4, 2018September 1, 2019

Please click the link for help finding safer choices for your holiday table. Vale Saucer Made in Longton, England. Floral Pattern (pattern name not marked on piece). When tested with an XRF instrument, this saucer had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 54,600 +/- 1,600 ppm Mercury (Hg): Negative/Non-Detect Arsenic (As): Negative/Non-Detect Cadmium (Cd): Negative/Non-Detect Barium (Ba): Negative/Non-Detect…

Vintage Johnson Brothers Fish Plate (Design No. 3), Made in England: 70,800 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe for kids)

November 2, 2018March 13, 2024

Please click the link for help finding safer choices for your holiday table. Vintage “Fish” dinner plate by Johnson Brothers, “Made in England” “Design No. 3” “A genuine hand engraving” “All decoration under the glaze. Detergent & acid resisting colour.” For those new to the Lead Safe Mama website: Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning…

Vintage Fisher Price Little People Green Plastic Man: 101 ppm Cadmium + 30 ppm Mercury

October 3, 2018March 16, 2019

Vintage Fisher Price Little People Green Man. Green plastic body with peach plastic head and painted on face and hair. Year of Manufacture Unknown (presumed c. 1970s). To see more vintage Fisher Price items I have tested, click here. The XRF test results for this exact item (pictured above) are as follows: Painted Head/Face –…

#LeadFree: 1978 Copy of “Holly Hobbie’s Answer Book” Paperback

August 17, 2018January 24, 2020

1978 Copy of “Holly Hobbie’s Answer Book” Paperback Child’s Book Note: The XRF instrument tests down to single-digit ppm accuracy. Items intended for use by children are considered toxic and unsafe for children at 90 ppm lead or higher in the paint or coating or 100 ppm paint or coating in the substrate. A “negative”…

Johnson Brothers Wedgwood Group Blue Willow Earthenware Octagonal Plate: 52,400 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe!]

July 21, 2018August 12, 2019

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This is a (c. 1980) Johnson Bros. (“A Member Of The Wedgwood Group” – see image below of back mark) Willow Earthenware octagonal plate, made in England. As with this piece with the same back mark [link]. I have not been able to determine the exact age of the piece, based on the back mark alone. If…

#Leaded: 1963 Hardcover Printing of “Volume 14 of The American Heritage New Illustrated History Of The United States; The Roosevelt Era”

June 24, 2018January 24, 2020

2 Comments

Most vintage books have at least some amount of lead. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern item manufactured and intended to be used by children is 90 ppm or higher in the coating (or paint) and 100 ppm (or higher) in the substrate. This 1963 printing of “The Roosevelt Era”…

#LeadFree: (Surprise!) 1968 Paperback Copy of “Al Jaffee Spews Out Snappy Answers To Stupid Questions”

June 24, 2018July 18, 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,…

#Leaded: 1965 Great Detective Stories Hardcover Book

June 24, 2018January 24, 2020

Most vintage books have at least some amount of lead. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern item manufactured and intended to be used by children is 90 ppm or higher in the coating (or paint) and 100 ppm (or higher) in the substrate. This 1965 printing of “Great Detective Stories”…

Vintage English Johnson Brothers Mill Stream Ceramic Ironstone Plate: 54,700 ppm Lead, 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.

June 23, 2018September 1, 2019

3 Comments

This vintage Johnson Brothers Mill Stream ceramic “Ironstone” dish tested positive for the following levels when tested with an XRF instrument: Lead (Pb): 54,700 +/- 1,700 ppm Barium (Ba): 489 +/- 104 ppm Tin (Sn): 1,261 +/- 78 ppm Zinc (Zn): 3,461 +/- 178 ppm Iron (Fe): 540 +/- 181 ppm For more information about…

1958 Little Golden Book – 208 ppm Lead; 90 ppm is unsafe for kids. Stick with 1980s (and newer) books.

June 14, 2018May 17, 2019

3 Comments

When tested with an XRF instrument this 1958 Little Golden Book (1958! Same age as my husband!), tested positive for 208 ppm Lead (Pb). Newly manufactured Items intended for use children today (in 2019) are considered unsafe (and illegal if newly manufactured) when they test positive for lead at 90 ppm lead (or higher) in…

Franciscan Desert Rose Earthenware China — c. 1941, Made in USA: 122,200 ppm Lead! (90 ppm is unsafe in kids’ items)

June 14, 2018September 24, 2023

39 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…

Maybe Grandma can Keep her Vintage Faux Pearls?: 295,900 ppm Lead (90 & up is unsafe in items kids use)

June 13, 2018September 14, 2023

3 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…

Tom & Jerry Vintage Milk Glass Christmas Mug: 37,100 ppm Lead + 943 ppm Cadmium (90 Lead + 40 Cadmium is unsafe for kids)

June 13, 2018December 7, 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 Winnie The Pooh Book, 1954 Cloth Cover: 3,999 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) + 326 ppm Arsenic!

May 31, 2018November 13, 2022

9 Comments

Yes, vintage books can have lead! This 1954 Reprint of the 1926 children’s book “Winnie The Pooh” tested positive for both Lead and Arsenic in the cover art. When tested with an XRF instrument the book pictured had the following levels: Lead (Pb): 3,999 +/- 94 parts per million (ppm) Arsenic (As): 326 +/- 59…

Vintage Spring Blossom Green “Crazy Daisy” Pyrex cup: 39,300 ppm Lead + 833 ppm Cadmium (90 ppm Pb is unsafe for kids!)

May 5, 2018January 5, 2024

7 Comments

Vintage Pyrex Spring Blossom Green “Crazy Daisy” patterned cups 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…

#LeadFree: Vintage Fisher Price Big Bird

March 9, 2018August 5, 2018

Vintage Fisher Price Big Bird doll tested negative for lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury. #GoFigure!!! – Thanks for reading! Tamara #LeadSafeMama Check out the test results of more things I have tested here: https://tamararubin.com/2018/01/index/