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)…
#LeadSafeMama: “Things” I need / ways you can help – April 2019.
Things I need/could really use (#1 through #5 are on the graphic below) — and some outcomes (networking/connections) I could use help with as well 😉 _______________ “Things” I need…continued: #6. A lawyer to help me sue the state pursuant to the tort claim notice (I believe our deadline to file is May 10, 2019!)…
Spring 2019 Dollar Tree Royal Norfolk Paisley Dinner Plates: 60 ppm Lead + 38 ppm Cadmium (safe by all standards!)
Note: While the XRF readings below indicate that these plates are “safe by all standards”, please do not take this as a recommendation by me to purchase these plates. I only have Lead-free and Cadmium-free dishes in my home and I don’t think there is a place for any level of toxicants in our kitchenware,…
#LeadSafeMama Stats: Top Months Ever… (as of April 11, 2019)
For those who follow my blog on a regular basis, you know I get a kick out of checking out my stats… (which is actually kind of funny since I all-but-failed statistics in high school and grad-school! Maybe I’m making up for what I missed back in the day?) Anyhow… today I noticed that (as…
Yet ANOTHER toxic offering from The Pottery Barn collection!… c. 2017 squirrel shaped salt and pepper shakers: 40,800 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe for kids’ items.]
At a time when consumer awareness of environmental toxicants in general – and of tainted household products especially – is on the rise; potential for recalls are commonplace; and manufactures and distributors are moving to tighten up supply chain oversight, Pottery Barn CONTINUES to disappoint. Despite specific recalls for Pottery Barn products in the past [Link], they…
Happy Toxic Easter? Yikes!! 1977 Avon Easter Perfume pin: 6,759 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) + 6,018 Cadmium (75 is unsafe)
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…
Don’t let kids play with vintage jewelry. 1973 Avon Fragrance Glacé Pin: 1,296 ppm Cadmium (a known carcinogen.)
Modern consumer goods are considered unsafe an illegal in the country of Denmark if they have Cadmium levels at 75 ppm and higher. In Washington State the hazard level for total Cadmium content is 40 ppm or higher. There is no United States federal hazard level for total Cadmium content as detectable with an XRF instrument….