Want some poison with your lemonade? Vintage Tupperware pitcher: 18 ppm Lead, 225 ppm Cadmium, 30 ppm Mercury.
When tested with an XRF instrument this vintage Tupperware brand orange plastic skinny juice / lemonade pitcher had the following readings: Orange Plastic of the Container: Lead (Pb): 18 +/- 4 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 225 +/- 11 ppm Mercury (Hg): 30 +/- 7 ppm Arsenic (As): Negative / Non-Detect Barium (Ba): 438 +/- 87 ppm Chromium (Cr):…
Remember licking this after mom frosted a cake? Vintage Tupperware Cake Decorator: 1,283 ppm Lead (90 is toxic)
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…
Lead Safe Mama’s May 2019 Facebook #Giveaway: Caveman Cups Pint Glasses!
May 2, 2019, 9:12 a.m.: – Hi friends! #LeadSafeMama‘s Facebook page (this page – link here!) is fast approaching 25,000 “followers” and 24,000 “likes”!!! Please invite your friends to like and follow the #LeadSafeMama page (use the “invite friends” button on the side of the Facebook page!) and as soon as we pass both 25,000…
I found an attorney to draft my tort claim against the State of Oregon, and now I just need to raise $1,500 today to cover his fee! #TIA
Hello all. I am so very excited that I finally found a highly-qualified attorney to draft my tort claim against the various agencies and representatives identified in my tort claim notice! He has requested a flat fee for this, of $1,500 in order to draft this in time for the May 10, 2019 deadline. This…
#LeadSafeMama: Site Stats – April 2019 just inched its way into 4th place (4th #BestMonthEver), with over 143,000 views.
Well I still haven’t gotten around to publishing a stats summary for March 2019… I think because I am probably still in shock at how amazing it was… but in the meantime, April 2019 is holding its own. As of this moment April 2019 is in 4th place #BestMonthEver for LeadSafeMama.com / TamaraRubin.com in terms…
Yesterday #LeadSafeMama’s total views for 2019 passed 1,720,000. This is more than 2x the total views for all of 2018.
_________________________ Yesterday (April 22, 2019 – Earth Day) … quietly… #LeadSafeMama’s total site views for 2019 passed 1,720,000 unique views (see chart below.) This is more than twice the 859,201 total views in 2018! This is also more than THREE TIMES the total 502,881 views in 2017! And it’s not even the end of APRIL yet!…
Older Ikea Glass: 41,400 ppm Lead + 745 Cadmium (note: ALL newer Ikea I have tested has been Lead-safe or Lead-free)
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 Safe Mama,…
New (August 2018) Rae Dunn Ceramic “Gulp” Coffee Mug from Marshall’s: 108 +/- 18 ppm Lead (safe by all standards)
To see more examples of Rae Dunn pieces Lead Safe Mama has tested, click here. Read more: Can I test my dishes with a LeadCheck swab? When tested with an XRF instrument, this ceramic “Rae Dunn Artisan Collection by Magenta” brand “Gulp” coffee mug (Made in China) purchased at a Marshall’s in Portland, Oregon for about…
Consumers can’t tell: one of these Tupperware bowls has 3,136 ppm Cadmium + 773 Mercury (both are poisons), one does not.
As a consumer you have no way to know which vintage Tupperware piece has toxic heavy metals (including Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium, Antimony and Lead – some of which are well documented known carcinogens) and which does not. It is time for Tupperware to step in and make a public statement about this (and possibly…
2018 U.S. “Copper” Penny: 579,100 ppm Zinc & 419,200 ppm Copper. No Lead, No Cadmium, No Mercury, No Arsenic.
Below is the full set of XRF test results for the 2018 U.S. copper penny pictured here: Details: Metals not detected are not listed Tests are done in “Consumer Goods” mode Testing instrument is a Niton XL3T XRF instrument by ThermoFisher Scientific. Both sides of the penny were tested multiple times to confirm the results….
Older Official Girlscout Badge / Pin: 39,000+/- 1,000 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.
Enamel pins are often high Lead and the scouts have even had recalls for enameled items in recent years (link). In general I avoid any enamel (from cookware to jewelry) unless I know it has been tested and found to be Lead-free (and Cadmium-free too). The Lead levels are usually just too high to make…
Larami Toys brachiosaurus toy dinosaur: 2,213 ppm Lead, 2,721 ppm Antimony. This toy would be illegal if made today.
Scroll down to see additional images, including picture of Dino next to Lego-guy for size! The amount of Lead that is considered unsafe and illegal in a modern item manufactured for use by children today is anything 90 ppm or higher in the paint or coating or anything 100 ppm or higher in the substrate….
Rainbow Iridescent Mermaid Straws: Non-Detect for Lead, Mercury, Cadmium and Arsenic. #Safe!
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 Safe Mama,…
Elara Dolomite Matte Marble Look Porcelain Tile from tilebar: Non-detect for Lead
When tested with an XRF instrument, the tile pictured here had the following readings (metals not listed were not detected, tests were done for a minimum of 60 seconds): Barium (Ba): 191 +/- 78 ppm Zinc (Zn): 9,576 +/- 350 ppm Copper (Cu): 412 +/- 67 ppm Iron (Fe): 1,244 +/- 219 ppm Vanadium (V):…
Belvedere Bianco Marble Look Porcelain Tile from tilebar: 29 +/- 11 ppm Lead (Safe by all standards)
When tested with an XRF instrument, the tile pictured here had the following readings (metals not listed were not detected, tests were done for a minimum of 60 seconds): Barium (Ba): 312 +/- 73 ppm Chromium (Cr): 404 +/- 92 ppm Zinc (Zn): 23,000 +/- 700 ppm Copper (Cu): 264 +/- 56 ppm Iron (Fe):…
Dollar Tree Store (Spring 2019) Mardi Gras Beads: Lead Free, Cadmium Free, Mercury Free & Arsenic Free (and just $1)
Continue reading below each photo of the different color beads to see the full XRF test results for that color bead. I often share that because the Dollar stores (Dollar Tree, Dollar General, etc.) have had so many violations in the past they are actually doing a good job of keeping Lead, Cadmium, Mercury and…
Basic Marble Bianco Matte Porcelain Tile from tilebar: 87 ppm Lead (safe by all standards!)
When tested with an XRF instrument, the tile pictured here had the following readings (metals not listed were not detected, tests were done for a minimum of 60 seconds): Lead (Pb): 87 +/- 31 ppm Barium (Ba): 393 +/- 108 ppm Zinc (Zn): 28,200 +/- 1,100 ppm Copper (Cu): 147 +/- 69 ppm Nickel (Ni):…
Fortezza Calacatta Antique Tile from tilebar: 329 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe in kids’ items)
When tested with an XRF instrument, the tile pictured here had the following readings (metals not listed were not detected, tests were done for a minimum of 60 seconds): Lead (Pb): 329 +/- 32 ppm Barium (Ba): 206 +/- 71 ppm Zinc (Zn): 17,200 +/- 600 ppm Copper (Cu): 298 +/- 58 ppm Iron (Fe):…
Kitchenaid 2019 Red Silicone & Bamboo Spatula Set: 11 +/- 4 ppm Lead! [Safe by all standards, but…]
In response to testing an older (c. 2010) yellow version of this exact same product (and finding high levels of lead in that product – see it on this link) I decided to follow up and purchase and test a new (2019) version of the product in red. (The yellow appears to no longer be…
Dollar Tree Store (Spring 2019) Garden Transplanter Trowel: Lead-Free (and just $1)
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 Safe Mama,…
As Notre Dame burns think of the children of Paris. Potentially worse than Flint – how many have been poisoned by this fire?
Monday – April 15, 2019 Today Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris burned. My first reaction was one of visceral, personal shock and sadness — because I lived in Paris for a year (June 1989 to June 1990) when I was 19 and 20, nannying for a few families and studying with the Theatré du Soliel…
What were you thinking, Kitchenaid?! (c. 2010) Yellow Silicone Spatula: 970 +/- 29 ppm Lead! [90 is unsafe in kids’ items.]
My shopping website has links to Lead-free alternatives for most products: www.ShopLeadSafeMama.com Originally posted: April 14, 2019 Updated: March 6, 2020 Update – March 2020: Since writing this post I have found at least two more high-Lead silicone spatulas. To see all of the spatulas that I have tested that have been positive for some…
Crystal bracelet (c. 2014), costume jewelry: 70,700 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) + 149,600 ppm Cadmium (75 ppm is unsafe.)
This bracelet was one of a matching set that a bride purchased and gave to each of her bridesmaids for her wedding in 2014. There is no brand or maker’s mark on it that I can find. When I tested this I was floored by the fact that it was so recently made and yet…
#AskTamara: This one is for the kids! Q. “Hey Mom! What’s a penny made of?”… XRF test results for a 1976 U.S.A. penny
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)…