XRF Testing

KitchenAid Dough Hook, c. 2015
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KitchenAid Dough Hook, c. 2015

Newer (2015) KitchenAid Dough Hook:  315 ppm lead — The level of lead that is considered unsafe for an item intended for children is 90 ppm lead. Items like this are not regulated for total lead content (as detectable with an XRF instrument.) I am NOT saying that this item will poison you, but I AM asking……

KitchenAid Whisk Attachment
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KitchenAid Whisk Attachment

KitchenAid whisk attachment: The top “nut” on this whisk attachment tested positive for lead at 274 parts per million (ppm.) — The level of lead that is considered unsafe for an item intended for children is 90 ppm lead. Items like this are not regulated for total lead content. I am NOT saying that this item…

KitchenAid Paddle Attachment, c. 2007
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KitchenAid Paddle Attachment, c. 2007

KitchenAid paddle: 607 parts per million lead (ppm). Purchased New Circa 2007(?) It was a “non-detect” for arsenic. — The level of lead that is considered unsafe for an item intended for children is 90 ppm lead. Items like this are not regulated for total lead content. I am NOT saying that this item will…

KitchenAid Beater Attachment
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KitchenAid Beater Attachment

KitchenAid beater: 445 ppm lead. And this black stuff came off all over the swab… How could the company even consider this safe for food use?! — The level of lead that is considered unsafe for an item intended for children is 90 ppm lead. Items like this are not regulated for total lead content (as…

Vintage Bauer Los Angeles Plate, Green: 430,100 ppm Lead (yes 43% Lead glaze!). Not safe for food use!
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Vintage Bauer Los Angeles Plate, Green: 430,100 ppm Lead (yes 43% Lead glaze!). Not safe for food use!

The green vintage Bauer, Los Angeles plate pictured here tested positive for Lead at the following level: 430,100 parts per million Lead (when tested with an XRF instrument.) This translates to glaze that is 43% Lead! For context: the amount of Lead that is considered unsafe (and illegal) in a newly manufactured item intended for…

Vintage Bauer Los Angeles Dinner Plate: 459,300 ppm Lead. Context; 90 ppm Lead is illegal in new items made for kids.
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Vintage Bauer Los Angeles Dinner Plate: 459,300 ppm Lead. Context; 90 ppm Lead is illegal in new items made for kids.

When tested with an XRF instrument this orange vintage Bauer, Los Angeles dinner plate was positive for 459,300 parts per million lead. [Sorry about the fuzzy photo!] That’s more than 45% Lead in the glaze! This dish tested negative with Lead Check swab (which are designed to test for lead on painted surfaces – not…

Blue Vintage Bauer Los Angeles Dinner Plate: 434,800 parts per million Lead [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]
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Blue Vintage Bauer Los Angeles Dinner Plate: 434,800 parts per million Lead [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]

Blue plate, vintage Bauer, Los Angeles: 434,800 parts per million lead. Even though the Lead level on this plate (when tested with an XRF instrument) was incredibly high, this particular plate tested negative with tested with a Lead Check swab* (which are designed to test for lead on painted surfaces – and do not always…

Vintage Bauer Los Angeles Yellow Ceramic Saucer: 174,800 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.
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Vintage Bauer Los Angeles Yellow Ceramic Saucer: 174,800 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.

When tested with an XRF instrument this yellow vintage Bauer, Los Angeles saucer was positive for 174,800 parts per million lead. [Sorry about the fuzzy photo!] That’s more than 17% Lead in the glaze! This dish tested negative with Lead Check swab (which are designed to test for lead on painted surfaces – not pottery),…

Vintage Bauer Los Angeles Yellow Glazed Ceramic Plate: 524,400 ppm Lead in the glaze. 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.
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Vintage Bauer Los Angeles Yellow Glazed Ceramic Plate: 524,400 ppm Lead in the glaze. 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.

When tested with an XRF instrument this yellow vintage Bauer, Los Angeles dinner plate was positive for 524,400 parts per million lead. That’s more than 52% Lead in the glaze! This dish tested negative with Lead Check swab (which are designed to test for lead on painted surfaces – not pottery), but why take the…

From 2013: The surprising source of most mercury pollution: Gold mining
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From 2013: The surprising source of most mercury pollution: Gold mining

Please click on the image below to see the full pdf of the article. Click here to see gold items that I have tested with an XRF that were also positive for mercury. The original link to article from 2013 can be seen here. A graphic depicting sources of mercury pollution from the original article…

Vintage Clarence Bone China Teacup: 56,700 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]
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Vintage Clarence Bone China Teacup: 56,700 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]

Clarence Bone China, Made in England, Teacup: 56,700 ppm Lead. For context, the amount of lead that is considered unsafe in newly manufactured items intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint, coating or glaze. Antiques and vintage items are not regulated and when selling them (in most…

Vintage Crown Trent Staffordshire Made In England Teacup: 47,200 ppm Lead. [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]
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Vintage Crown Trent Staffordshire Made In England Teacup: 47,200 ppm Lead. [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]

Teacup: 47,200 ppm Lead (Pb). Fine Bone China Crown Trent Staffordshire England For Context: in 2018 the amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern/newly manufactured item intended for use children is 90 ppm lead (or higher) in the coating, paint or glaze or 100 ppm (or higher) in the substrate. Dishware is…

Vintage “Golden Crown” Ena Harkness Rose Queen Series Mug: 44,000 ppm Lead [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids]
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Vintage “Golden Crown” Ena Harkness Rose Queen Series Mug: 44,000 ppm Lead [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids]

Coffee cup : 44,000 ppm lead Bone China – Golden Crown – E & R, England Rose Queen Series, Ena Harkness. For context: The amount of Lead that is considered unsafe and illegal in newly manufactured items intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm Lead (or higher) in the paint, glaze or coating….

#LeadedKitchen: Emile Henry Bowl & Plate
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#LeadedKitchen: Emile Henry Bowl & Plate

 Newer (2014) Emile Henry plate and bowl: 120-140 ppm lead. This has likely been leach tested and passed with flying colors. Leach testing is a different methodology for determining lead content than XRF testing. Click links below for more information about testing. Tested with an XRF —- #XRFTesting #LeadedDishes • #LeadSafeDishes For more safer choices…

#LeadedKitchen: Emile Henry Loaf Pan
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#LeadedKitchen: Emile Henry Loaf Pan

Emile Henry; Made In France: 260 ppm lead. This has likely been leach tested and passed with flying colors. Leach testing is a different methodology for determining lead content than XRF testing. Click links below for more information about testing. Tested with an XRF —- #XRFTesting #LeadedDishes • #LeadSafeDishes For more safer choices in kitchenware…

Emile Henry Mixing Bowl, Purchased at Williams Sonoma c. 2014: 1,647 ppm Lead on the food surface.
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Emile Henry Mixing Bowl, Purchased at Williams Sonoma c. 2014: 1,647 ppm Lead on the food surface.

  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 Bauer Los Angeles Blue Mixing Bowl: 474,100 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe in children’s items.
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Vintage Bauer Los Angeles Blue Mixing Bowl: 474,100 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe in children’s items.

Blue  vintage mixing bowl by  “Bauer, Los Angeles”. When tested with an XRF instrument the bowl pictured had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 454,100 parts per million (ppm) on the outside Lead (Pb): 474,100 ppm on the inside (the FOOD SURFACE of the bowl!) Important to note, the bowl also tested negative with Lead Check…

Vintage Ceramic Hull Brand Mixing Bowl: 31,500 ppm Lead (when tested with an XRF instrument.)
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Vintage Ceramic Hull Brand Mixing Bowl: 31,500 ppm Lead (when tested with an XRF instrument.)

Ceramic “Hull” mixing bowl: 31,400 ppm lead. For LEAD FREE mixing bowl choices, click HERE. For more safer choices in kitchenware options, click here. Note:  I am not saying this particular bowl will poison the people using it.  I am saying that there is no reason for one of the most potent neurotoxins known to…

#LeadedKitchen: Vintage Ceramic Mixing Bowls
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#LeadedKitchen: Vintage Ceramic Mixing Bowls

Vintage – unmarked mixing bowls – 9180 ppm lead – cracked & crazing. Not regulated. 90 ppm is considered toxic in a child’s toy. Tested with an XRF —- #XRFTesting #LeadedDishes • #LeadSafeDishes For LEAD FREE mixing bowl choices, click HERE. For more safer choices in kitchenware options, click here. Note:  I am not saying…

#LeadedKitchen: Vintage 1970s Salt Pottery Mixing Bowl
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#LeadedKitchen: Vintage 1970s Salt Pottery Mixing Bowl

Vintage salt pottery (c. 1970s) mixing bowl: 6,059 ppm lead. A mama asked me to test this because she had made a batch of Kombucha in it and the Kombucha was making her feel sick/ light headed/ dizzy. Tested with an XRF —- #XRFTesting #LeadedDishes • #LeadSafeDishes For LEAD FREE mixing bowl choices, click HERE….

Vintage 1970s Era Cereal Bowl: 134,100 ppm Lead
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Vintage 1970s Era Cereal Bowl: 134,100 ppm Lead

Please click the link for help making safer choices for your family. Vintage (1970s?) cereal bowl: 134,100 ppm lead (yikes!) when tested with an XRF instrument. For context: when testing is done with an XRF instrument, the amount of lead that is considered toxic in a newly manufactured item made today and intended for use…

Pier One Yellow Glazed Ceramic Plate, Made in Portugal: 6,495 ppm Lead
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Pier One Yellow Glazed Ceramic Plate, Made in Portugal: 6,495 ppm Lead

Yellow Pier One plate/ bowl When tested with an XRF instrument this dish was positive for Lead at 6,495 ppm. This is actually fairly common both for Pier 1 pieces as well as for ceramic pieces that are made in Portugal. As a result I always stay away from Pier One for dishware personally. To see…

Wedgwood Hedge Rose bowl (Made in England): 100,000+ ppm Lead & 19,114 ppm Arsenic. [Not safe for food use.]
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Wedgwood Hedge Rose bowl (Made in England): 100,000+ ppm Lead & 19,114 ppm Arsenic. [Not safe for food use.]

Wedgwood china Hedge Rose bowl (made in England). When tested with an XRF instrument this bowl had the following readings: Lead: Greater than 100,000 ppm Arsenic: 19,114 ppm Under no circumstances would I consider this bowl safe for food use. This level of Lead is consistent with my findings for all vintage china from this…