Picture of me - with my four sons (Avi - 15, Charlie - 11, A.J. - 17 & Colescott - 23) on Valentine’s day. This picture was taken in the Portland Art Museum's “green room” right before my two oldest boys performed at the opening gala for the retrospective exhibit of my eldest son’s ...
Read More about A Rubin Family update + a reminder about how the Lead Safe Mama website works (including the top 12 posts for today….)
Recent & Important Articles:
What is vintage? What is antique? Some definitions to help you determine if your cherished items are likely to be toxic or not!
What do you mean by “Vintage” here on this website?
Many of the objects I test and write about on this blog are noted to be either “vintage” or “antique” I especially use these terms when I don’t know the exact year of production for the specific item tested – but can "guesstimate" the age, based ...
Read More about What is vintage? What is antique? Some definitions to help you determine if your cherished items are likely to be toxic or not!
Sterling silver Wendell Manufacturing Co. baby spoon, c. 1895-1900: 1,677 ppm Lead in the handle. 90 is unsafe.
First I just want to say that I LOVE finding resources like this (link here) online! I was looking to identify the back mark of the little antique sterling silver spoon pictured here on this post and this “Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks" had not only a photo of the mark with the name of the ...
Read More about Sterling silver Wendell Manufacturing Co. baby spoon, c. 1895-1900: 1,677 ppm Lead in the handle. 90 is unsafe.
2019 Ikea Bintje Plant Pot: Lead-Free. 82% Zinc + 17% Iron. There are actually a lot of safe things made in China!
Ikea Bintje Plant Pot, 60 second test:
Chromium (Cr): 2,043 +/- 194 ppm
Zinc (Zn): 824,700 +/- 8,800 ppm
Iron (Fe): 165,900 +/- 2,700 ppm
Cobalt (Co): 5,944 +/- 695 ppm
This piece is discussed in this video - link here.
I will update this post shortly, but just wanted to start ...
Read More about 2019 Ikea Bintje Plant Pot: Lead-Free. 82% Zinc + 17% Iron. There are actually a lot of safe things made in China!
1956 copy of Harry The Dirty Dog: 3,099 ppm Lead. 90 ppm (& up) is considered unsafe and illegal in modern books for kids.
Tested area #1
Double page with train/ focus on green; 60 second test:
Lead (Pb): 689 +/- 21 ppm
Barium (Ba): 1,002 +/- 107 ppm
Chromium (Cr): 77 +/- 48 ppm
Bromine (Br): 6 +/- 3 ppm
Zinc (Zn): 389 +/- 16 ppm
Copper (Cu): 39 +/- 13 ppm
Iron (Fe): 496 +/- 36 ppm ...
Read More about 1956 copy of Harry The Dirty Dog: 3,099 ppm Lead. 90 ppm (& up) is considered unsafe and illegal in modern books for kids.
Anchor Hocking Wexford Glassware (1967–1998) goblet with press lines (an excellent example of Lead-free vintage 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). ...
Read More about Anchor Hocking Wexford Glassware (1967–1998) goblet with press lines (an excellent example of Lead-free vintage glassware.)
Vintage enamelware coffee pot toy: 620,400 ppm Lead. Yes, you read that right! 62% Lead! (90 ppm is unsafe for kids)
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 ...
Read More about Vintage enamelware coffee pot toy: 620,400 ppm Lead. Yes, you read that right! 62% Lead! (90 ppm is unsafe for kids)
1980 McDonalds Garfield Mug: 169,500 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe for kids) + 10,700 ppm Cadmium (causes cancer)
Published: March 1, 2020
Updated: December 4, 2023
Full XRF test results for the McDonald's Garfield "Rises to the Occasion" glass pictured are below.
To summarize the test results below, this glass tested positive for two heavy metals (metals that are poisonous to humans): ...
Read More about 1980 McDonalds Garfield Mug: 169,500 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe for kids) + 10,700 ppm Cadmium (causes cancer)
Small resin house: Lead-free! Resin objects are “almost always” safe for kids! (From a metals perspective at least!)
Little Resin House
Reading #1) Gray of roof; 30 second test:
Zinc (Zn): 39 +/- 18 ppm
Copper (Cu): 86 +/- 36 ppm
Iron (Fe): 356 +/- 129 ppm
Titanium (Ti): 27,200 +/- 2,300 ppm
Reading #2) Wall and fence area; 30 second test:
Titanium (Ti): 35,700 +/- 2,500 ppm
No ...
Read More about Small resin house: Lead-free! Resin objects are “almost always” safe for kids! (From a metals perspective at least!)
Vintage Sterling China Cup & Saucer: 37,500 ppm Lead. All Sterling China I’ve tested has had unsafe levels of Lead.
Nestle cup and saucer - logo area; 60 second test.
Lead (Pb): 37,500 +/- 1,100 ppm
Cadmium (Cd): 55 +/- 17 ppm
Barium (Ba): 510 +/- 103 ppm
Antimony (Sb): 450 +/- 44 ppm
Tin (Sn): 7,848 +/- 366 ppm
Zinc (Zn): 573 +/- 63 ppm
Iron (Fe): 1,022 +/- 208 ppm
Vanadium (V): 113 ...
Read More about Vintage Sterling China Cup & Saucer: 37,500 ppm Lead. All Sterling China I’ve tested has had unsafe levels of Lead.
Could bombillas (decorated metal straws for drinking yerba mate) cause undiagnosed heavy metal poisoning in users?
Are yerba mate bombillas (straws) toxic?
Published: February 29, 2020
Photographic contributions by Avi Benjamin Rubin
For those new to this website:
Tamara Rubin is a multiple-Federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead-poisoning prevention and consumer goods ...
Read More about Could bombillas (decorated metal straws for drinking yerba mate) cause undiagnosed heavy metal poisoning in users?
Lead contaminated silver (+ Cadmium too) with Lead Safe Mama, February 27, 2020 (Video)
Below is a Facebook Live video I made today. I have uploaded it to my YouTube channel. Please watch it and if you learn something or find it at all interesting and want to see more videos like this, please subscribe to the YouTube channel so that you will be alerted when I upload future videos! ...
Read More about Lead contaminated silver (+ Cadmium too) with Lead Safe Mama, February 27, 2020 (Video)
February 2020 Shutterfly mug with red interior: 174 ppm Lead + 569 ppm Cadmium (a carcinogen known to cause cancer)
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 ...
Read More about February 2020 Shutterfly mug with red interior: 174 ppm Lead + 569 ppm Cadmium (a carcinogen known to cause cancer)
“Christmas in February” with Lead Safe Mama, February 24, 2020 (Video)
Below is a Facebook Live video I made today. I have uploaded it to my YouTube channel. Please watch it and if you learn something or find it at all interesting and want to see more videos like this, please subscribe to the YouTube channel so that you will be alerted when I upload future videos! ...
Read More about “Christmas in February” with Lead Safe Mama, February 24, 2020 (Video)
