XRF Testing

Franciscan Earthenware Madeira Pattern Dishes: 67,300 ppm Lead. [90 ppm Lead is considered unsafe in children’s items.]
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Franciscan Earthenware Madeira Pattern Dishes: 67,300 ppm Lead. [90 ppm Lead is considered unsafe in children’s items.]

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Vintage Franciscan Madeira Pattern Plate: tested positive for 67,300 parts per million lead when tested with an XRF instrument. To learn more about XRF testing, Click Here. For context, modern items intended for use by children are required by current legislation to be under 90 ppm lead in the paint/glaze or coating. Dishes (especially vintage…

Vintage (c. 1955-1966) Franciscan Autumn Pattern China: 716,100 ppm Lead [71%!] + 73,000 ppm Arsenic Too!
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Vintage (c. 1955-1966) Franciscan Autumn Pattern China: 716,100 ppm Lead [71%!] + 73,000 ppm Arsenic Too!

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Franciscan Autumn Pattern plate & saucer: as high as 716,100 ppm Lead in the glaze. Autumn Pattern: 1955 – 1966 Also: 73,000 ppm Arsenic. Note: the plate was higher lead than the bowl, and they look like they are from different batches based on the maker’s marks on the bottom.  The bowl / saucer was…

Vintage Franciscan Earthenware Plate: 100,400 ppm Lead
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Vintage Franciscan Earthenware Plate: 100,400 ppm Lead

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Franciscan Potteries Earthenware Tray/ Plate: 100,400 ppm lead! Vintage Dishes #XRFTesting #LeadedDishware Items intended for children are required by current legislation to be under 90 ppm lead. Dishes (especially vintage dishes!) are not regulated for total lead content (via XRF reading.) Click here to see some lead-free dishware options! Thank you for reading and for…

Vintage Franciscan Apple China is not safe for food use purposes: 80,700 ppm Lead
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Vintage Franciscan Apple China is not safe for food use purposes: 80,700 ppm Lead

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Published: December 27, 2016 When tested with an XRF instrument this Franciscan Apple vintage (c. 1950s?) china was positive for 80,700 ppm Lead. These usually also test positive with a reactive agent swab test. Items intended for children are required by current legislation to be under 90 ppm lead in the glaze, paint or coating….

Leaded Mugs: Yellow & Blue
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Leaded Mugs: Yellow & Blue

Yellow Mug: 200 ppm lead Blue Mug: non-detect for lead. No mark or maker At my friend Nancy’s house.  She loves “yard-sailing”! #XRFTesting This is one of several posts where I will share very little information and really focus on the photos and the XRF Test results.  If you have an interest in learning more…

2012 Minnie Mouse Mug: 108,300 ppm Lead + 28,600 ppm Arsenic (90 ppm is considered unsafe 4 kids.)
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2012 Minnie Mouse Mug: 108,300 ppm Lead + 28,600 ppm Arsenic (90 ppm is considered unsafe 4 kids.)

This Minnie Mouse mug was purchased new by me in Orlando at a gift shop in February of 2012. [I went there for the National Home Builders show when we were first working on filming my documentary on childhood lead poisoning.] The mug tested positive with an XRF instrument with the following readings: Lead (Pb):…

c. 2010, Darker Blue “Made in Thailand” Corelle Stoneware Mug: 1,585 ppm Lead + 231 ppm Arsenic.
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c. 2010, Darker Blue “Made in Thailand” Corelle Stoneware Mug: 1,585 ppm Lead + 231 ppm Arsenic.

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Corelle Stoneware Mugs These are the mugs that come with the lead-free glass plates they sell… Medium Blue Mugs Purchased c. 2010 1,585 ppm Lead 231 ppm Arsenic “Made in Thailand” If you have an interest in learning more about these posts (likely because you are new to my site!) please check out this post…

M-I-C-K-E-Y… Mickey Mouse Anchor Hocking Disney Mug: 75,300 ppm Lead + 15,400 ppm Arsenic (90 ppm Pb is unsafe 4 kids!)
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M-I-C-K-E-Y… Mickey Mouse Anchor Hocking Disney Mug: 75,300 ppm Lead + 15,400 ppm Arsenic (90 ppm Pb is unsafe 4 kids!)

Anchor Brand Made in USA Vintage (1980?) Mickey Mouse Club milk glass mug As high as 75,300 ppm lead and 15,400 arsenic in the painted design The milk glass is “non-detect” for lead and tested positive for arsenic at 8 ppm #XRFTesting This is one of several posts where I will share very little information…

Leaded Mugs: Corelle
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Leaded Mugs: Corelle

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Corelle Stoneware Mugs These are the mugs that come with the lead-free glass plates they sell… Light Blue Mugs Purchased 4 or 5 years ago 825 ppm lead 571 ppm arsenic “Made in Thailand” #XRFTesting This is one of several posts where I will share very little information and really focus on the photos and…

2013 Starbucks Coffee Company Espresso Collectable Cup, Peru: 16,900 ppm Lead + 4,606 ppm Arsenic Too!
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2013 Starbucks Coffee Company Espresso Collectable Cup, Peru: 16,900 ppm Lead + 4,606 ppm Arsenic Too!

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2013 Starbucks Peru mini mug / espresso cup As high as 16,900 ppm Lead & 4,606 ppm Arsenic. Just because a mug is small does not mean it was made for use by children!!! The amount of Lead that is considered illegal in a newly manufactured item intended for use by children is anything 90…

Ceramic photo mug with puppies: 256,000 ppm Lead + 71,200 ppm Arsenic [Brand unknown]
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Ceramic photo mug with puppies: 256,000 ppm Lead + 71,200 ppm Arsenic [Brand unknown]

“Lil’ Angels” puppy photo mug, brand unknown. As high as 256,000 ppm Lead & 71,200 ppm Arsenic. If you have an interest in learning more about these posts (likely because you are new to my site!) please check out this post and this post for a start!   For lead-free mug choices click here! Thank you for…

Vistaprint Orca Coatings Photo Mug: 676 ppm Lead & 718 ppm Arsenic. 90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.
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Vistaprint Orca Coatings Photo Mug: 676 ppm Lead & 718 ppm Arsenic. 90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.

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Vistaprint brand custom photo mug by Orca Coatings, Made in China.   Post originally published: December 24, 2016 Updated: February 19, 2020 When tested with an XRF instrument this mug came in with the following readings: Lead (Pb): 676 ppm Arsenic (As): 718 ppm How much Lead is “too much” Lead? The amount of Lead…

#LeadedMugs: The Volunteer
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#LeadedMugs: The Volunteer

Souvenir Mug: 101 ppm lead & 434 ppm chromium. Most souvenir or promotional mugs are very high lead!  If you have an interest in learning more about these posts (likely because you are new to my site!) please check out this post and this post for a start!  Thanks for visiting! For lead-free mug choices click…

Green (Recycled?) Glass Mug: 431 ppm Lead. [For context: 100 ppm Lead is considered unsafe in toys.]
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Green (Recycled?) Glass Mug: 431 ppm Lead. [For context: 100 ppm Lead is considered unsafe in toys.]

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When tested with an XRF instrument this clear glass mug (with green tint, probably recycled glass) had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 431 ppm Mercury (Hg): Negative/Non-Detect (ND) Cadmium (Cd): Negative/Non-Detect (ND) Glassware with a tint often has at least some level of Lead. Recycled glassware also often has at least some level of Lead.  If…

Calypso “Carefree” saucer by Syracuse: > 100,000 ppm (10%) Lead. All Syracuse china seems to be high Lead.
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Calypso “Carefree” saucer by Syracuse: > 100,000 ppm (10%) Lead. All Syracuse china seems to be high Lead.

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In my travels I often visit with people (either in their homes or they come to me) and test their things for lead.  I love the opportunity to meet with families in person and to give them tools to make their homes safer. If I find leaded dishes in their homes, I offer advice to…

#AskTamara: What do you use to test for Lead? Can I do this myself at home? How much does it cost?
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#AskTamara: What do you use to test for Lead? Can I do this myself at home? How much does it cost?

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Originally written on December 19, 2016 Updated, December 11, 2019 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,…

“S’Nope!” – The post I wrote in December of 2016 when Snopes first attempted to discredit my work.
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“S’Nope!” – The post I wrote in December of 2016 when Snopes first attempted to discredit my work.

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Originally published: 12/3/2016, 7:15 a.m. This blog-post is in response to a piece by a contributing writer to Snopes. In this piece the author questions the FACT that there is an unsafe level of lead in vintage Pyrex items – and asserts that potential harm that could be caused by these leaded items is “unproven”…

#AskTamara: The inspector is coming tomorrow, what do I need to know?
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#AskTamara: The inspector is coming tomorrow, what do I need to know?

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       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…