Vinyl

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 vinyl floor sample sent in by Amy in Alabama

July 13, 2023July 14, 2023

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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) to…

Sample of black vinyl fabric from a couch purchased / manufactured c. 2000: 242 ppm Lead & 5,131 ppm Antimony [linked to SIDS.]

July 2, 2022July 7, 2022

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July 2, 2022 – Saturday This sample of fabric from a sofa (c. 2000) was sent to me by a reader for testing. She had heard that both vinyl and leather coverings of sofas could have Lead and she wanted to make sure this sofa was safe for her family. In testing the sofa vinyl,…

New #TenMinutesWithTamara video! Testing for Lead in vinyl blinds in a newer construction home (c. 1980-2000).

December 28, 2020December 28, 2020

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In this new ten minute video I show you how you can test your vinyl blinds for Lead yourself and what you need to do to clean up the mess (and get rid of the hazard) if you find Lead in your vinyl blinds! Please let me know if you have any questions. Here’s my…

Dritz purple vinyl “Fun Tape Measure”: package says it has Lead, but it tests Lead-Free!

March 18, 2020July 10, 2023

3 Comments

Introduction: 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) to test consumer goods for toxicants…

Original vinyl bench for 1975 Hammond organ: 4,138 ppm Lead, 370 Arsenic, 21 Cadmium + 835 Antimony!

August 31, 2019August 31, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument the vinyl covered bench for this 1975 Hammond organ had the following readings: Brown vinyl seat of organ bench: Lead (Pb): 4,138 +/- 113 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 21 +/- 8 ppm Arsenic (As): 370 +/- 102 ppm Barium (Ba): 15,600 +/- 300 ppm Chromium (Cr): 1,117 +/- 212 Antimony…

Gray [2019 – Fred Meyer] Large Vinyl-Coated Garage Bike Storage Hook: Lead Free, Cadmium Free, Arsenic Free!

June 3, 2019June 3, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument, this Large square-shaped new (purchased in 2019 at Fred Meyer’s) gray vinyl-coated (“rubberized”) garage / bike storage hook pictured here had the following readings: Testing was done on the gray vinyl coated component of the hook. Barium (Ba): 154 +/- 42 ppm Bromine (Br): 7 +/- 3 ppm Tin…

Red, Newer (year/vendor unknown) Large Vinyl-Coated Garage Bike Storage Hook: Lead Free, Cadmium Free, Arsenic Free!

June 3, 2019June 3, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument, this Large square-shaped newer (specific year of purchase/manufacture is unknown – sorry!) red vinyl-coated (“rubberized”) garage / bike storage hook pictured here had the following readings: Testing was done on the red vinyl coated component of the hook. Barium (Ba): 295 +/- 41 ppm Bromine (Br): 9 +/- 4…

Red, Newer (year/vendor unknown) Vinyl-Coated Garage Bike Storage Hook: Lead Free, Cadmium Free, Arsenic Free!

June 3, 2019June 3, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument, this newer (specific year of purchase/manufacture is unknown – sorry!) red vinyl-coated (“rubberized”) garage / bike storage hook pictured here had the following readings: Testing was done on the red vinyl coated component of the hook. Barium (Ba): 398 +/- 42 ppm Zinc (Zn): 482 +/- 31 ppm Iron…

Yellow Vinyl Coated Garage Bike Storage Hook (c. 2002, Home Depot): 4,440 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe in kids items.]

June 3, 2019June 3, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument, the yellow vinyl-coated steel garage / bike storage hook (purchased new at Home Depot in 2002) had the following readings: Yellow “rubberized” component tested Lead (Pb): 4,440 +/- 83 ppm Barium (Ba): 213 +/- 37 ppm Chromium (Cr): 903 +/- 133 ppm Bromine (Br): 18 +/- 5 ppm Zinc…

Made in Taiwan Vintage Blue Vinyl Measuring Tape for Sewing: Lead Free, Cadmium Free, Arsenic Free, Mercury Free.

May 23, 2019January 21, 2023

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When tested with a Niton XL3T XRF instrument in consumer goods mode this blue vinyl unbranded measuring tape (with black writing, pictured here) had the following readings: On the vinyl part of the tape: Barium (Ba): 2,050 +/- 75 ppm Zinc (Zn): 415 +/- 37 ppm Copper (Cu): 87 +/- 31 ppm Iron (Fe): 130…

Not So Old…German Dritz Blue and White Vinyl Measuring Tape for Sewing: 1,372 ppm Lead. [90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]

May 23, 2019April 5, 2021

When tested with a Niton XL3T XRF instrument in consumer goods mode this blue and white vinyl Dritz brand measuring tape (pictured here, marked “Germany” and “Dritz”, purchased by my friend 15 or 20 years ago, c. 2000) had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 1,372 +/- 59 ppm Barium (Ba): 2,234 +/- 82 ppm Antimony…

Vintage Red Vinyl Measuring Tape for Sewing: 4,054 ppm Lead. [90 ppm Lead is unsafe in kids items.]

May 22, 2019July 12, 2020

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When tested with a Niton XL3T XRF instrument in consumer goods mode this red vinyl “Made in China” vintage measuring tape (pictured here) had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 4,054 +/- 121 ppm Barium (Ba): 823 +/- 82 ppm Bromine (Br): 31 +/- 9 ppm Copper (Cu): 74 +/- 41 ppm Metals not listed were…

Singer Sewing Machines Vintage Pink Vinyl Measuring Tape: 3,783 ppm Lead. [90 ppm Lead is unsafe in kids items.]

May 21, 2019May 21, 2019

3 Comments

When tested with a Niton XL3T XRF instrument in consumer goods mode this measuring tape (pictured here) had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 3,783 +/- 98 ppm Barium (Ba): 435 +/- 63 ppm Bromine (Br): 35 +/- 7 ppm Copper (Cu): 54 +/- 34 ppm Iron (Fe): 126 +/- 68 ppm Metals not listed were…

Thrift Store Find For Today: BW Stevenson’s 1972 Record Album “Lead Free”: 8,357 +/- 167 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe]

February 24, 2019February 24, 2019

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Really, I don’t need to say much about this one, right? So funny that an album named “Lead Free” even exists – let alone the fact that it is positive for more than 8,000 ppm Lead! LOL (#RandomThingsTamaraFindsHysterical!) My husband bought this for me (for $1), knowing it would likely test positive for a high…

#Leaded: Vintage MatchBox Car Vinyl Case

December 29, 2017January 27, 2018

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Vintage vinyl MatchBox car case. Made in Canada. Tested positive for as much as 310 ppm lead. In 2017 the amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern/newly manufactured item intended for children is 90 ppm lead (or higher) in the coating or 100 ppm (or higher in) the substrate. – Would you…

1966 Peter Pan ’45 of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer: 3,777 ppm Lead

December 28, 2017December 28, 2023

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1966 Peter Pan brand Christmas record: Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer Paper sleeve: Lead-free Vinyl record: 3,777 ppm Lead For context, the amount of Lead considered toxic in a newly manufactured item made for and intended to be used by children is 90 ppm Lead in the coating and 100 ppm Lead in the substrate….

This vintage (c. 1970) “Malibu Francie” Barbie tested positive for unsafe levels of Lead and Cadmium

December 20, 2017July 19, 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…

#LeadFree: RCA Victor ’45, “It’s Easy For You To Say”

December 16, 2017

RCA Victor ’45 record. “It’s Easy For You To Say.” Year unknown (will research!) Non-detect (ND / Negative) for lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd). Tested with an XRF instrument. Thanks to the California Care Connection for donating and supporting my advocacy! Each donation helps make a new post possible! For more…

1953 Cricket Records “Jolly Tunes”: Cadmium (Cd): 192 ppm, Mercury (Hg): 22 ppm! Do you have vintage vinyl at home?

December 16, 2017February 24, 2019

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Cricket Records ’33 record from 1953, “Jolly Time.” When tested with an XRF instrument it had the following readings. Lead (Pb): Negative (“non-detect”) Arsenic (As): Negative (“non-detect”) Cadmium (Cd): 192 +/- 15 ppm Mercury (Hg): 22 +/- 14 ppm To see more vinyl records I have tested, click here. For more #SaferChoices for your…

#Leaded: Vintage Vinyl, 1956 “Mercury” Records, Lola Dee & Rusty Draper

December 10, 2017December 28, 2017

Vintage 1956 vinyl record. 186 +/- 33 ppm lead (Pb) & 23 +/- 14 ppm cadmium (Cd). Non-Detect for Mercury (Hg) and Arsenic (As). Tested with an XRF instrument. Thanks to Bethany Gunter for donating and supporting my advocacy! Each donation helps make a new post possible! For #SaferChoices for your family, click here. If…

Vintage Record Album – Kenny Baker, Christian Science Hymnal: 7,713 ppm Lead. Who has vintage records at home?

December 7, 2017February 24, 2019

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Kenny Baker, Christian Science Hymnal. Year unknown. To see more vinyl records I have tested, click here. When tested with an XRF instrument this vintage vinyl record album had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 7,713 +/- 250 ppm Mercury (Hg): Negative / Non-Detect (ND) Cadmium (Cd): Negative / Non-Detect (ND) Arsenic (As): Negative / Non-Detect…

#Leaded: Vintage Vinyl – Roger Williams on Kapp Records

December 7, 2017December 7, 2017

Roger Williams on Kapp Records 45. Moonlight Love. Year unknown. 293 +/- 36 ppm lead (Pb). Non-Detect for Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd) and Arsenic (As). Tested with an XRF instrument. For #SaferChoices for your family, click here. If you would like to support my advocacy work (and this website) please consider making a contribution via…