XRF Testing

2019 Creative Co-op ceramic Christmas dish: 54 ppm Lead + 21 ppm Cadmium. Safe by all standards.

March 6, 2020November 26, 2023

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…

New 2019 enamelware mug: 7,862 ppm Lead, 3,502 ppm Cadmium, 1,088 ppm Arsenic, & 1,031 ppm Antimony!

March 6, 2020November 27, 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 (a scientific method…

2019 Creative Co-op ceramic Christmas dish: 9,591 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe for kids) + 197 ppm Cadmium (a carcinogen)

March 6, 2020November 27, 2023

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…

2019 Creative Co-op Kellie Montana ceramic Christmas plate: 49 ppm Lead + 1,319 ppm Cadmium (a known carcinogen)

March 6, 2020November 27, 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…

Vintage Winthrop silver plate Gerber Baby spoon: Lead-Free, 14.7% silver! This is safe for babies to use! Do you have one?

March 6, 2020December 3, 2023

9 Comments

This was purchased at an antique store (for $12) and I don’t know how old it is. If you happen to have one of these at home (from your childhood) and know the year made, please let me know and I will update the post accordingly! Thank you. Gerber baby spoon – handle Zinc (Zn):…

OXO green silicone spatula: 1117 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) + 11 ppm Cadmium in the food-contact surface. I avoid this brand.

March 6, 2020March 6, 2020

11 Comments

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 high-precision XRF testing (a…

OXO orange silicone spatula: 489 ppm Lead + 16 ppm Cadmium in the food-contact surface. I avoid this brand.

March 6, 2020March 6, 2020

4 Comments

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 high-precision XRF testing (a…

2019 Ikea Bintje Plant Pot: Lead-Free. 82% Zinc + 17% Iron. There are actually a lot of safe things made in China!

March 1, 2020March 1, 2020

2 Comments

Ikea Bintje Plant Pot, 60 second test: Chromium (Cr): 2,043 +/- 194 ppm Zinc (Zn): 824,700 +/- 8,800 ppm Iron (Fe): 165,900 +/- 2,700 ppm Cobalt (Co): 5,944 +/- 695 ppm This piece is discussed in this video – link here. I will update this post shortly, but just wanted to start by making sure…

1956 copy of Harry The Dirty Dog: 3,099 ppm Lead. 90 ppm (& up) is considered unsafe and illegal in modern books for kids.

March 1, 2020March 1, 2020

Tested area #1 Double page with train/ focus on green; 60 second test: Lead (Pb): 689 +/- 21 ppm Barium (Ba): 1,002 +/- 107 ppm Chromium (Cr): 77 +/- 48 ppm Bromine (Br): 6 +/- 3 ppm Zinc (Zn): 389 +/- 16 ppm Copper (Cu): 39 +/- 13 ppm Iron (Fe): 496 +/- 36…

Anchor Hocking Wexford Glassware (1967–1998) goblet with press lines (an excellent example of Lead-free vintage glassware.)

March 1, 2020November 9, 2023

13 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 enamelware coffee pot toy: 620,400 ppm Lead. Yes, you read that right! 62% Lead! (90 ppm is unsafe for kids)

March 1, 2020July 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)…

1980 McDonalds Garfield Mug: 169,500 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe for kids) + 10,700 ppm Cadmium (causes cancer)

March 1, 2020December 6, 2023

9 Comments

Published: March 1, 2020 Updated: December 4, 2023 Full XRF test results for the McDonald’s Garfield “Rises to the Occasion” glass pictured are below. To summarize the test results below, this glass tested positive for two heavy metals (metals that are poisonous to humans): Lead and Cadmium — at levels that are considered (by…

Lead contaminated silver (+ Cadmium too) with Lead Safe Mama, February 27, 2020 (Video)

February 27, 2020February 28, 2020

2 Comments

Below is a Facebook Live video I made today. I have uploaded it to my YouTube channel. Please watch it and if you learn something or find it at all interesting and want to see more videos like this, please subscribe to the YouTube channel so that you will be alerted when I upload future…

February 2020 Shutterfly mug with red interior: 174 ppm Lead + 569 ppm Cadmium (a carcinogen known to cause cancer)

February 27, 2020November 27, 2023

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…

“Christmas in February” with Lead Safe Mama, February 24, 2020 (Video)

February 24, 2020

Below is a Facebook Live video I made today. I have uploaded it to my YouTube channel. Please watch it and if you learn something or find it at all interesting and want to see more videos like this, please subscribe to the YouTube channel so that you will be alerted when I upload future…

Testing vintage books for Lead with Lead Safe Mama, February 24, 2020 (Video): Harry the Dirty Dog (1956)

February 24, 2020March 1, 2020

3 Comments

Below is a Facebook Live video I made today. I have uploaded it to my YouTube channel. Please watch it and if you learn something or find it at all interesting and want to see more videos like this, please subscribe to the YouTube channel so that you will be alerted when I upload future…

1939 “Wm ROGERS MFG CO” New York World’s Fair spoon: 50% silver (Lead-free, Cadmium-free, Arsenic-free!)

February 24, 2020February 24, 2020

Spoon – 30 seconds Barium (Ba): 1,866 +/- 917 ppm Chromium (Cr): 4,070 +/- 1,232 ppm Zinc (Zn): 67,400 +/- 1,800 ppm Copper (Cu): 333,600 +/- 3,100 ppm Nickel (Ni): 73,400 +/- 2,100 ppm Iron (Fe): 1,829 +/- 806 ppm Silver (Ag): 513,300 +/- 3,300 ppm Molybdenum (Mo): 1,428 +/- 206 ppm This piece is…

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…

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

February 23, 2020

2 Comments

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…

Vintage (1990s?) AAA rubber toy blue whale (made in China): Lead-free, Antimony-free, Cadmium-free, Arsenic-free & Mercury-free!

February 23, 2020February 23, 2020

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Whale – 60 second test Barium (Ba): 492 +/- 56 ppm Br (Bromine): 22 +/- 5 pm Zinc (Zn): 304 +/- 33 ppm Iron (Fe): 210 +/- 68 ppm Titanium (Ti): 15,100 +/- 1,800 ppm This piece is discussed in detail on this video – link here. I will update this post shortly, but just…

1999 Wedgwood white glazed Edme teacup (Made in England): 43,100 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.

February 23, 2020

6 Comments

Wedgwood ribbed part of cup – 60 seconds Lead (Pb): 43,100 +/- 1,100 ppm Barium (Ba): 636 +/- 90 ppm Zinc (Zn): 179 +/- 36 ppm Iron (Fe): 2,741 +/- 273 ppm Bismuth (Bi): 1,886 +/- 112 ppm Vanadium (V): 588 +/- 67 ppm Titanium (Ti): 1,155 +/- 112 ppm Wedgwood lip of cup…

2019 “made in China” ceramic Ikea mug (21963-1 ): Lead-free glaze, 38 ppm Lead in the substrate. Safe by all standards.

February 23, 2020February 24, 2020

4 Comments

When tested with an XRF instrument the white glazed Ikea mug pictured here had the following two sets of readings: 1.) Ikea mug exterior glaze: 60 second test Zinc (Zn): 28,500 +/- 900 ppm Copper (Cu): 335 +/- 62 ppm Iron (Fe): 650 +/- 168 ppm Vanadium (V): 82 +/- 29 ppm Titanium (Ti): 204 +/- 46 ppm Zirconium (Zr): 15,600 +/- 500 ppm Continue reading below…

1983 Avon Mother’s Day Dish: 9,750 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) + 121 ppm Antimony (causes cancer in rats).

February 23, 2020May 15, 2022

XRF Reading – 60 second test Lead (Pb): 9,750 +/- 229 ppm Chromium (Cr): 3,588 +/- 157 ppm Antimony (Sb): 121 +/- 20 ppm Tin (Sn): 217 +/- 19 ppm Zinc (Zn): 3,224 +/- 131 ppm Iron (Fe): 2,689 +/- 230 ppm Vanadium (V): 452 +/- 48 ppm Titanium (Ti): 346 +/- 52 ppm…

Sunday chat with Lead Safe Mama, February 23, 2020 (Video): Vintage Silver Spoons, Duplos, FlexiBears, Ikea Mug, Sterling Pottery, Wedgwood, Avon

February 23, 2020February 23, 2020

1 Comment

Below is a Facebook Live video I made today. I have uploaded it to my YouTube channel. Please watch it and if you learn something or find it at all interesting and want to see more videos like this, please subscribe to the YouTube channel so that you will be alerted when I upload future…