XRF Testing

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

December 20, 2017July 19, 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…

#LeadFree: Vintage Plastic Disney Snow White Mug

December 19, 2017January 28, 2018

This vintage plastic cup from Disney – with a picture of Snow White on it – is negative for lead both in the plastic and in the paint for the design. The plain (unpainted) part of the cup tested was also negative for lead. The cup was negative for mercury, arsenic and cadmium too! Here’s…

Plastic Vintage “Grumpy” Plastic Disney Mug: 449 ppm Lead (90 ppm Lead is considered unsafe for kids.)

December 19, 2017February 7, 2019

This vintage plastic cup from Disney – with a picture of Grumpy the dwarf on it – is positive for Lead both in the plastic and in the paint for the Grumpy design. This yellow mug had the following XRF readings: The plain yellow plastic part of the cup: Lead (Pb): 387 +/- 22…

#GuessingGame: Vintage (1970s?) Disney Snow White Cups

December 19, 2017January 28, 2018

Which one do you think has lead? How much lead do you think it has? Why? Click here to see the XRF test results for the yellow mug. Click here to see the XRF test results for the blue mug. Here’s a modern #LeadFree version of a Disney cup for kids on Amazon! Here are…

#Leaded: Vintage Unmarked White Enamel Cooking Pot

December 19, 2017August 20, 2022

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Tested in 2014. This pot was positive for 463 ppm lead when tested with an XRF instrument. Age and maker are unknown. Most vintage enamelware is high lead. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in an item intended for children is 90 ppm lead and higher (90 and up for coatings, 100 and…

#LeadSafe: Crock Pot brand glazed ceramic liner: 42 ppm Lead (safe by all standards…but still not something I recommend.)

December 19, 2017April 14, 2019

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This Crock-Pot brand stoneware / black glazed ceramic liner was positive for lead at 42 parts per million (ppm). [Tested in July of 2014, exact year of manufacture unknown.]. This is a level that is considered safe by all standards (United States and European.) It has also likely been leach-tested. That said I would personally…

#LeadSafe: Rival Brand Crock Pot Ceramic Liner

December 19, 2017December 19, 2017

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This Rival brand Crock-Pot stoneware / ceramic liner was positive for lead at 37 parts per million (ppm). [Tested in 2014, exact year of manufacture unknown.]. This is a level that is considered safe by all standards (United States and European.) It has also likely been leach-tested. That said I would personally not be comfortable…

Hamilton Beach Stay-or-Go Crock Pot White Painted Logo On Glass Lid: 9,866 ppm Lead

December 19, 2017January 6, 2019

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This ceramic crock pot liner and lid is from a Hamilton Beach “Stay or Go” model crock pot / slow cooker. The black ceramic component (the liner / vessel that holds the food) tested negative for lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic when tested with an XRF instrument. The white writing on the lid (the logo…

#Leaded: “Vintage”? 1980s? Corning Mug With Floral Pattern

December 19, 2017January 28, 2018

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While I don’t know the exact year of manufacture for this Corning mug with a floral pattern on the side, there is an “81” on the bottom and it has a color scheme that is also consistent with things like this from the early 1980s. The decorative element on this Corning mug tests positive for…

Corningware c. 1996-1998 “Summer Blush” Square Casserole Dish with Pansies: 15,500 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.

December 19, 2017September 2, 2019

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“Made in Illinois” Summer Blush pattern square Corningware baking / casserole dish with pansies. Period of manufacture: c. 1996-1998. The colored flower pattern on the outside of this dish was positive for 15,500 ppm Lead when tested with an XRF instrument. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in the paint or coating of an…

#LeadFree: Gray Staub Coated Cast Iron La Cocotte Casserole

December 19, 2017June 10, 2020

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This is a coated cast iron casserole by Staub that was tested in 2016. It tested negative for lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury when tested with an XRF instrument. The interior and exterior surfaces were tested. The exterior was positive for chromium (Cr) at 26,200 ppm. For context chromium is part of many stainless…

#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…

Vintage Princess House Clear Glass Mug: Lead-Free! (UPDATE: Princess House also sold Leaded items – so be careful!)

December 16, 2017May 5, 2023

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Originally Published: December 16, 2017 Updated: December 10, 2020 When I originally wrote this, I shared the following sentence (which is no longer true!): “All “Princess House” brand glassware that I have ever tested has been 100% free of Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), and Arsenic (As.)” Just recently, I learned that Princess House also…

#LeadFree: 1973 Vintage Fisher Price Circus Train

December 16, 2017August 5, 2018

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Vintage 1973 Plastic Fisher Price Circus Train. Tested with an XRF instrument. All components were non-detect for lead (Pb), arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg.). The white plastic component of this toy is positive for cadmium at 43 +/- 10 ppm. Here’s more info about cadmium. Here is a modern version of a similar toy on…

#LeadFree: Wonder Pony, Made In China

December 16, 2017December 16, 2017

My little pony knock-off (Wonder Pony Land by Gi-Go). Unicorn with blue bird “cutie mark.” Year of manufacture unknown. Made in China. #LeadFree (non-detect [ND] for lead). Also ND for cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg). Tested with an XRF instrument. Thanks to Kathleen Bowman for donating (again!) and supporting my advocacy! Each donation helps make a…

#LeadFree: Pinkie Pie My Little Pony, 2010 – Made in China

December 16, 2017December 16, 2017

Pinkie Pie “My Little Pony” figurine, dated 2010 & marked “Made in China” & “Hasbro.” Lead-free (non-detect [ND] for lead). Also ND for cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg). Tested with an XRF instrument. Thanks to Diana Carlton for donating (again!) and supporting my advocacy! Each donation helps make a new post possible! Here’s a “My…

#Cadmium: Vintage 1940s Nancy Ann Storybook Doll, Princess/ Bride

December 16, 2017July 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)…

Vintage Queen Of Hearts Nancy Ann Storybook Doll, c. 1940: 6,255 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe for kids)

December 16, 2017July 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)…

#Leaded: Vintage 1940s Nancy Ann Storybook Bride Doll

December 16, 2017April 28, 2020

This vintage (1940s) Nancy Ann Storybook doll bride has a painted face that is 172,600 +/- 10,000 ppm lead. The amount of lead that is considered toxic/unsafe in an item made for children today is 90 ppm lead and higher. In general you should keep vintage dolls (both plastic and ceramic) away from young children…

Vintage Fisher Price Merry_Go_Round Toy: 4,897 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) + 391 ppm Arsenic. Click to learn more.

December 16, 2017March 30, 2020

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Fisher price merry-go-round-toy When tested with an XRF instrument, this vintage green and yellow plastic Fisher Price playground merry-go-round toy tested positive for Lead and Arsenic. As with most of these vintage plastic toys the variations of toxic heavy metals found in each component of the toy seems to be contingent on the color of…

#LeadFree: Vintage 1969 Fisher Price Mini Bus

December 16, 2017September 30, 2018

This little 1969 Vintage Fisher Price “Mini Bus” was non-detect (negative) for lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd). The little people were positive for these elements however. Click here to read the post and see readings for each of the little people! Tested with an XRF instrument. All components tested. Here is…

#Leaded: Vintage Fisher Price Cowboy With White Hat

December 16, 2017September 30, 2018

This little vintage Fisher Price plastic cowboy with a green body and white hat tested positive for lead and arsenic. His green body was 3,377 +/- 71 ppm lead and 114 +/- 43 ppm arsenic. Lead is considered unsafe for children at levels of 90 ppm and higher (by modern standards.) Tested with an XRF…

#Leaded: Vintage Plastic Fisher Price Lady With Blue Dress & Yellow Hair

December 16, 2017September 30, 2018

This little vintage Fisher Price lady is positive for lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic. Her yellow hair came in at 4,723 +/- 97 ppm lead, 69 +/-13 ppm cadmium and 166 +/- 54 ppm arsenic. Her face was positive for 472 +/- 23 ppm lead, 118 +/- 13 ppm cadmium and 13 +/- 7 mercury….