#Leaded: Bicycle Building Tools, P & K Lie Wheel Truing Stand, Leaded Brass

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Originally Published: April 28, 2018 In September of 2015 my husband got a BRAND NEW made in Germany “P & K Lie” truing stand to make bicycle wheels (a very important tool for his business, his bicycle and bicycle trailer building and design work.)    And then we tested it for Lead: It turned the…

#Leaded: 2017 Moscow Mule Copper Mug With Leaded Brass Handle

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Moscow Mule Mug: As high as 43,400 +/- 1,600 ppm lead in the brass handle. Solid lead attachment solder points for the handle too! Tested positive for lead with an XRF instrument and a LeadCheck swab! Here’s an affiliate link to purchase LeadCheck swabs to test your own Moscow mule mug at home:  https://amzn.to/2L1QBs5 – but…

Toy Brass Cymbal with Wooden Handle: 274 ppm Lead. [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids]

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Child’s mini brass cymbal – with wooden handle: 274 ppm Lead. Modern toys are regulated and required to be under 90 ppm lead in the paint or coating when tested with an XRF instrument (90 ppm in the coating or 100 ppm in the substrate). Year of manufacture and maker of this toy are unknown. Tested…
Brass Hammer Leaded Tamara Rubin Lead Safe Mama

Brass Hammer Multi-Tool (often marketed to women or used as a toy): 40,600 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]

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When tested with an XRF instrument this small brass hammer / nested screw-driver multi-tool had the following reading: Lead (Pb): 40,600 ppm lead. The amount of Lead that is considered unsafe in an item intended for use by children is 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint or coating and 100 ppm Lead or…

A New Trend In Stupidity: : Expensive Fancy Cookware with Leaded Brass Handles Is All The Rage In Kitchen “Fashion”

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Words companies are currently using to describe their contemporary cookware that incorporates last-century high-lead-content brass decorative elements (these are screenshots from their websites:)   Originally Published April 27, 2018 Updated: December 31, 2020 Decorative Leaded brass accents on new kitchenware. This one is a hard subject for me; I almost don’t know where to start…

#AskTamara: Guess Which of These Four White Glass Lamp Shades Has Lead and How Much!

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Please take a look at the four white glass lamp shades below and guess which ones have lead and at what levels!  [This is a great “game” to play with your “newly lead-woke” friends!, Answers are posted below the final image.] Click here for more examples of lamps I have tested. Click here for more…

Are you contaminating your garden’s soil? Chicken Wire: 2,201 ppm Lead, 30 ppm Cadmium. Click & read for safer choices.

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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…

A short story of a small vintage ceramic bowl and a boy from Wisconsin who was poisoned.

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I originally shared this in October of 2013, but given how much we have learned about dishware and lead since then, I thought it was an important one to re-share! I have quite a few friends in Wisconsin and have been invited several times to present to groups there (including presentations in Milwaukee, Madison and…

Vintage (c. 1972) “Butterfly Gold” Pyrex Casserole Dish: 87,000 ppm Lead. [Context: 90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]

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Vintage Pyrex “Butterfly Gold” casserole dish, c. 1972.   The mustard and white paint on this vintage Pyrex casserole dish tested positive for the following elements at the following levels (with a one-minute test, using an XRF instrument): Lead (Pb): 87,000 +/- 2,900 ppm Cadmium (Cd): ND / Non-Detect (Negative) Arsenic (As): ND / Non-Detect…

“Old Town Blue” Pattern Vintage Pyrex Tea Cup, c.1972 – 1982: 17,700 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]

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Vintage Pyrex mugs/ tea cups in the “Old Town Blue” pattern: The dark blue paint on these mugs tested positive for the following elements at the following levels (with a one-minute test, using an XRF instrument):   Lead (Pb): 17,700 +/- 500 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 154 +/- 12 ppm Arsenic (As): ND Mercury (Hg): ND…

Vintage “Horizon Blue” Pattern Pyrex Casserole. c. 1969-1972: 72,000 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe for kids’ items.]

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This vintage “Horizon Blue” casserole by Pyrex tested positive for the following elements at the following levels (on the painted exterior design with a one-minute test, using an XRF instrument):   Lead (Pb): 72,000 +/- 2,200 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 33 +/- 11 ppm Arsenic (As): ND Mercury (Hg): ND Gold: (Au) 504 +/- 170 ppm…

Can the Lead Safe Mama team come visit your community and do an outreach event?

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Originally posted: April 19, 2018 Lead Safe Mama Community Outreach Events When We Coordinate Lead Safe Mama Lead Poisoning Prevention Outreach Events: We often do an information-rich, engaging film and/or video presentation (from our rather exhaustive library of hard-to-find videos and original footage — featuring amazing stories, insights and perspectives from parents, politicians, journalists, and…

We just joined Imperfect Produce and it is Fantabulous!

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We joined Imperfect Produce about a week ago and got our first box a few days ago!  It’s spectacular to have fresh organic (and mostly local) produce delivered directly to your door! What an incredible gift. We are also low-income and so we qualified for a scholarship. Our first box cost just $21.95 including delivery!…

SafBaby.com “Why Lead In Dishes Is Not OK”

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Wow! Thank You to SafBaby.com — for writing this well-executed and comprehensive article on lead in dishes! Sincerely, I couldn’t have said/written this better myself! Click on the image below to read the full article. Published April 15, 2018 Why Lead In Dishes Is Not OK According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the health impacts from…

Okay…now some trolls are accusing me of “capitalizing” on my kids’ lead poisoning!

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Offering information and services that help people protect their families and getting paid for your time and knowledge is not “capitalizing” on a tragedy, it’s stepping up and doing what is right, doing what others might not have the energy, time or courage to do. [Especially when you consider that most of what I do…

Ask Tamara: Do Starbucks mugs have high levels of Lead?

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  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…

2017 Starbucks Coffee “You Are Here” Collection, California Mug: 6,397 ppm Lead [> 90 is unsafe for kids.]

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XRF test results for the mug pictured: When tested with an XRF instrument this Starbucks Coffee Brand Ceramic “You Are Here” Collection “California” Mug (c. 2017) had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 6,397 +/- 184 ppm Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect / Negative Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative The amount of Lead that…

#LeadFree: 2016 3 oz Starbucks Coffee Company Black Ceramic Espresso Cup

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This Starbucks Coffee Company black glazed three ounce espresso mug (“Made in China”) tested negative (non-detect) for lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic when tested with an XRF instrument. Other Starbucks Coffee brand mugs have not fared so well over the years. Click here to see if I have tested your Starbucks Coffee mug! For more lead-free…

#Leaded: 2006 Starbucks Coffee Brand Ceramic Mug with Pear and Flower Design

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2006 Starbucks Coffee Brand Ceramic Mug with Pear and Flower Design: Positive for lead (Pb) with levels as high as 304 ppm lead (+/- 37 ppm) when tested with an XRF instrument. This mug was negative for cadmium, arsenic and mercury. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in the substrate of an item manufactured…
Starbucks Coffee Gold Peace Sign Espresso Mug

#LeadFree: 2015 Starbucks Coffee Gold Peace Sign Espresso Mug

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This Starbucks Coffee gold peace sign three ounce espresso mug (“Made in China”) tested negative (non-detect) for lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic when tested with an XRF instrument. Other Starbucks Coffee brand mugs have not fared so well over the years. Click here to see if I have tested your Starbucks Coffee mug! For more lead-free…