Johnson Brothers Wedgwood Group Blue Willow Earthenware Octagonal Plate: 52,400 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe!]
This is a (c. 1980) Johnson Bros. (“A Member Of The Wedgwood Group” – see image below of back mark) Willow Earthenware octagonal plate, made in England. As with this piece with the same back mark [link]. I have not been able to determine the exact age of the piece, based on the back mark alone. If…
#Leaded: Johnson Brothers Wedgwood Group Willow Earthenware Pasta Bowl
This is a Johnson Bros. (“A Member Of The Wedgwood Group”) Willow Earthenware Pasta Bowl. I have not been able to determine the exact age of the piece based on the back mark. If you have information that could help me with that, please let me know. I would assume that since it does say…
Johnson Bros. Willow pattern china. Post 1912, England. 43,100 ppm Lead in the glaze. 90 ppm (& up) is unsafe.*
This vintage Johnson Bros. blue Willow pattern shallow bowl/ saucer (made in England), was likely made after 1912 (based on the back mark, source.) Related: #AskTamara: What do you use to test for Lead? As with nearly all of the Willow pattern china I have tested, it was positive for very high (unsafe) levels of lead…
Q. Are Blue Willow Dishes Lead Free? A. Mostly No!
Introduction (for those new to this website): Tamara Rubin is a multiple-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…
Vintage La Cartuja De Sevilla Pickman China Soup Cup: 44,800 ppm Lead
When tested with an XRF instrument this vintage La Cartuja De Sevilla Pickman China soup cup (Made in Spain) was positive for the following elements: Lead (Pb): 44,800 ppm +/- 1,400 Barium (Ba): Â 462 ppm +/- 78 Non-detect (Negative) for: Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd) and Arsenic (As) To learn more about XRF testing, Click Here….
2003 Purple Chantal Mug / Teacup, Made In China: 679 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe in kids’ items].
When tested with an XRF instrument this 2003 Chantal mug (that was mine, personally & I bought new at a local kitchen store here in Portland) had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 679 ppm Arsenic (As): Non-Detect Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect For context: The amount of lead considered toxic in an item intended for children (in…
#LeadSafe: 1981 Hardcover Children’s Book, Why Mosquitoes Buzz In People’s Ears
Many vintage books have lead in both the covers (in the dyes of the fabric or leather, the printing/ink and in any decorative paints used) and pages (in the ink). While the distinction of the word “vintage” changes as the years pass (“vintage” vs. “new”, vs. “antique”) please remember that 1981 (while it seems like…
#LeadSafe: “Have A Magical Day” Disney Parks Mug
When tested with an XRF instrument this “Made in Thailand” Disney Parks “Have A Magical Day” coffee mug was positive for a very low level of lead (Pb): 68 +/- 32 ppm. It was negative (non-detect/ND) for cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg.) For context: The amount of lead considered toxic in an item…
#LeadFree: Genuine Leather Fossil Wallet, Black
This black Fossil brand genuine leather wallet was negative for Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As) and Mercury (Hg) when tested with an XRF instrument. Metals are often used to make dyes for leather, so it is not uncommon to see lead or cadmium in a leather item like a wallet or purse. The older…
Tamara’s Kitchen: Norpro 123 Grip-EZ Handy Flat Grater With Black Rubberized Handle
Norpro 123 Grip-EZ Handy Flat Grater With Black Rubberized Handle: non-detect (negative/ND) for Lead (Pb), Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd) and Mercury (Hg) when tested with an XRF instrument. This is mine (from my kitchen) – and is several years old, which is why in my personal photos of the item the little red band is…
#LeadFree: 2018 OXO Good Grips Green Silicone Steamer Basket
OXO Good Grips Green Silicone Steamer Basket. Made In China. Purchased new on Amazon in July of 2018. For more OXO items I have tested, click here. The XRF metals reading for this item are: Zinc (Zn): 118 +/- 20 ppm Copper (Cu): 56 +/- 23 ppm Titanium (Ti): 932 +/- 530 ppm It was…
#LeadFree: Sunsella Green Silicone Vegetable Steamer
Sunsella Green Silicone Vegetable Steamer. Made In China. Purchased new on Amazon in July of 2018. Please note: this thing REEKS of chemicals. The smell coming out of the package was quite overwhelming. Not all chemicals are metals or have metal components, so not all chemicals are detectable with an XRF instrument. The XRF metals…
#Parenting Advice: TBF, April 2015 Update On Avi – Age 10
Here’s a #ThrowBackFriday (TBF!) post from Facebook, something I shared in April of 2015… a bit of parenting advice to help with parenting special needs kids (kids with a brain injury due to lead poisoning especially!) I’ll update the post later with a photo from Avi around that time too! As always, please let me…
OXO GoodGrips Silicone Spatula: 27 ppm Lead (in the black rubberized handle.) Considered safe by all standards.
Originally Published: July 13, 2018 Updated: March 6, 2020 OXO GoodGrips Silicone Flexible Turner Spatula This new (in 2018) OXO GoodGrips Silicone Flexible Turner Spatula is lead free in the spatula blade and metal part of the handle when tested with an XRF instrument. It was also negative (ND/ Non-Detect) for cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As)…
Japanese Hasami Porcelain Mug Glazed Area: Non-Detect for Lead, Substrate: 30 ppm (safe by all standards.)
This Hasami Porcelain ceramic mug (Made In Japan) was negative (non-detect/ND) for Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd) and Arsenic (As) on the glazed elements when tested with an XRF instrument. Other elements found in the glaze: Zinc (Zn): 2,480 +/- 114 ppm Iron (Fe): 4,174 +/- 288 ppm Bismuth (Bi): 24 +/- 11 ppm…
#LeadFree: Lambert Drinking Glass, “Emma” Style
This Lambert “Emma” drinking glass  was negative (non-detect/ND) for lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) when tested with an XRF instrument. See more drinking glasses I have tested here. As always, please let me know if you have any questions! Tamara Rubin #LeadSafeMama
Made in Mexico Crate & Barrel “Miguel Highball” Glass: Lead-Free (Click for my guide to buying Lead-free glassware!)
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…
#LeadFree: Crate & Barrel Made In Japan White Ceramic Mug
This Crate & Barrel white ceramic mug (Made In Japan) was negative (non-detect/ND) for lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) when tested with an XRF instrument. The glaze on the main part of the cup was positive for the following metals when tested with an XRF instrument: Barium (Ba): 131 +/- 42…
Timeline of my posts discussing unsafe levels of Lead in Pura Kiki insulated stainless baby bottles (through 2018)
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)…
Beatrix Potter 2007 Wedgwood China Peter Rabbit Baby Cup: 36,000 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe for kids)
Beatrix Potter 2007 Wedgwood China Peter Rabbit Baby cup This little Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit Wedgwood China baby cup was purchased new in about 2007 and was tested with an XRF instrument (by me) in 2012. This cup belonged to my friend Chelsea. As with most of these Beatrix Potter cups produced by Wedgwood before the…
“Authentic Original” Disneyland Resort Mug: 129 ppm Lead in the Glaze. This is considered within a safe range.
This “Authentic Original” “Disney Parks” Disneyland Resort (c. 2017) Made In Thailand Mug tested positive for low lead (generally within a safe range for a mug) when tested with an XRF instrument. The reading for the decorative elements on the outside was 129 +/- 32 ppm Lead. Consumer goods are considered unsafe for use by…
Walmart Expert Gardener Light Duty Garden Hose New (2017), Made In USA: 52 ppm Lead. Safe by all standards.
This “Expert Gardener” “Light Duty” garden hose was tested new on the shelf in Walmart in 2017. Only the plastic part of the hose was tested and it was positive for lead (Pb) at 52 parts per million. 52 ppm lead is a relatively low level of lead, but I would still have concerns for…
#LeadFree: White Starbucks Espresso Mug, c. 2014
This small white Starbucks espresso mug was tested with an XRF instrument in June of 2014 and was negative for lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As.) The year of manufacture of this piece is unknown, but it was fairly new at the time it was tested (sorry I did not think to…
2014 Zak Designs Frozen Anna & Elsa Mug: 8,834 ppm Lead (90 ppm Lead is considered unsafe for children)
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 sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama, LLC…