#Leaded: Hevea Baby Bottle
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)…
2018; “It’s got to get better in a little while”
A New Year’s reflection on surviving the nightmare (2017) with our dreams (for 2018 and beyond) intact by listening to “God” By Leonard Rubin – “It’s got to get better in a little while” – Like many musicians who grew up in the rockin’, psychedelic late ’60’s – early ’70’s (I was born in 1958), I tend…
#FlashSale (To support my advocacy in 2018!)
Click the heart below to chip-in $75 in support of my advocacy work in 2018! Thank you! The #FlashSale rate is only good during an announced Flash Sale. #FlashSale announcements are done here on my blog and on Facebook (on the LeadSafeMama page) and sometimes via my e-mail list (which you can subscribe to using…
#Leaded: Painted Entry Door of San Francisco Middle School
Middle school entry door (touched by hundreds of children every single day!), painted area is positive for lead at 773 ppm lead. Tested with an XRF instrument in 2013. This lead level is a reading through several layers of paint and is likely reflective of an old leaded layer of paint underneath several newer layers…
#Leaded: Painted Metal Side of San Francisco Middle School Door
Middle school door side (touched by hundreds of children every single day!), positive for lead at 31,100 ppm lead. Tested with an XRF instrument in 2013. The amount of lead that is considered TOXIC for an item intended to be used by children on a regular basis (like a toy) is anything 90 parts per…
#Leaded: Handle to Main Door for San Francisco Middle School
Middle school door metal handle (touched by hundreds of children every single day!), positive for lead at 59,100 ppm lead. Tested with an XRF instrument in 2013. The amount of lead that is considered TOXIC for an item intended to be used by children on a regular basis (like a toy) is anything 90 parts…
#Leaded: Vintage Tepco Ceramic Bowl
Vintage “Tepco” “Made in USA” ceramic bowl. Tested positive for lead at 28,100 ppm lead. Tested with an XRF instrument in 2014. Would you like to see more test results like this? Please help me rent (or eventually buy!) an XRF instrument to continue this independent consumer goods testing and advocacy work. You can support…
Newer (c. 2013) Baldwin Brand Brass Finish Door Knob: 11,500 ppm Lead
Baldwin brand doorknob: 11,500 ppm lead. Tested in 2014. Building components (like door knobs) are not regulated AT ALL for total lead content (as detectable with an XRF instrument.) #SimpleSolution: look for stainless or nickel door knobs (and hardware or hinges.) To see more door knobs that I have tested, click here (post category “door…
Misha / Mishka 1980 Russian Olympics Figurine: 16,500 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is considered unsafe in items intended for use by kids.
Misha / Mishka 1980 Russian Olympics Mascot, Moscow. Tested with an XRF instrument, positive for lead at 16,500 +/- 500 ppm and cadmium at 111 +/- 12 ppm. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern/newly manufactured item intended for children is 90 ppm lead (or higher) in the coating or 100…
#Leaded: Cost Plus World Market Mushroom Plate, c. 2005
This is a plate from Cost Plus World Market, Made in China purchased new c. 2005. Tested in 2013. Positive for lead at 11,000 ppm. In 2017 the amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern/newly manufactured item intended for children is 90 ppm lead (or higher) in the coating or 100 ppm…
Adams Calyx®Ware English Ironstone Saucer: 44,600 ppm Lead. 90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.
Calyx®Ware “Real English Ironstone”, Adams “Made In England” China Saucer: 44,600 ppm lead, tested with an XRF instrument. Year unknown. Tested in 2014. In 2017 the amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern/newly manufactured item intended for children is 90 ppm lead (or higher) in the coating or 100 ppm (or higher)…
#Leaded: Oneida Dark Blue “Petals” Bowl (Year Unknown)
Oneida Petals bowl: 369 ppm lead (Pb) & 26 ppm cadmium (Cd). Tested in 2014. Here’s the mug from this pattern on Amazon. I am sharing this for context (not as a recommendation.) Amazon links are affiliate links (if you purchase something after clicking on my links I may receive a small commission at no extra…
#LeadFree: Melissa & Doug Wooden Toy Train Set
I tested this Melissa & Doug wooden train set back in 2014 and it was non-detect (ND) for lead (Pb) when tested with an XRF instrument! Here’s my affiliate link for this product on Amazon!* All of the Melissa & Doug products that I have tested have been negative for lead. The nice thing about Melissa…
#LeadFree: Sophie The Giraffe Baby Toy
Sophie the Giraffe baby toy was negative for lead (Pb) when tested with an XRF instrument! Tested in 2017. Here’s my affiliate link for this product on Amazon!* Would you like to see more test results like this? Please help me rent (or eventually buy!) an XRF instrument to continue this work. You can support my…
#LeadFree: Melissa & Doug Fish Colors Puzzle
Melissa & Doug, “Crafted by hand” Fish Colors Puzzle. Lead free! (Non-detect for lead as tested with an XRF instrument.) Made in China. Here’s my affiliate link for this product on Amazon!* All of the Melissa & Doug products that I have tested have been negative for lead. The nice thing about Melissa & Doug is…
#LeadFree: Wiggly Rubber Fishing Lures
No Lead, No Mercury & No Arsenic in these wiggly fishing worms/ bait—- but they tested positive for as high as 157 ppm cadmium (Cd), when tested with an XRF instrument. I am quite concerned about cadmium in fishing gear, especially something that might be swallowed by a fish that you might later intend…
#Leaded: “Oven Proof” Blue Ceramic Fish Tray
Vintage “Oven Proof” Blue Ceramic Fish Tray: 596 ppm lead. Made in Japan. Please note: All of the vintage ceramics that I have tested that were marked “Oven Proof” on the back have been positive for high levels of lead. Most have been positive for levels much higher than the level found in this particular piece….
Study: Remediating Soil Lead with Fish Bones, January 2012
“Fish bones are made of the phosphate mineral apatite, which readily combines with lead to form pyromorphite, a stable crystalline mineral that can’t be absorbed by the human digestive system.1,2 Now researchers are using fish bones and other phosphate-rich amendments to remediate lead in urban soils. “We have seen reduction in bioaccessibility in some lab…
#Leaded: Vintage MatchBox Car Vinyl Case
Vintage vinyl MatchBox car case. Made in Canada. Tested positive for as much as 310 ppm lead. In 2017 the amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern/newly manufactured item intended for children is 90 ppm lead (or higher) in the coating or 100 ppm (or higher in) the substrate. – Would you…
The Home Depot Hammer Rubberized Handle: 6,156 ppm Lead + 163 ppm Cadmium [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]
When tested with an XRF instrument the rubberized handle on this The Home Depot brand hammer had the following toxicant readings: Lead (Pb): 6,156 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 163 ppm The amount of lead that is considered toxic in a child’s toy is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint or coating and anything…
1945: How to use molten lead to make sure your tool handles stay in place!!!!
My husband found this gem back in 2012! …how to use molten lead to make sure your tool handles stay in place!!!! 1945 Popular Mechanics: “Useful Ideas To Save You Money” Image 2 – page 14 – “Tool Handle Leaded in Place” You can support my independent consumer goods testing & advocacy work by joining…
#Leaded: Vintage Tool, Pliers
Vintage tool: 1,221 ppm LEAD. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in a child’s toy is anything 90 ppm lead or higher. Tools are not regulated for lead and often have very high levels of lead. Would you like to see more test results like this? Please help me rent (or eventually buy!)…
Newish Home Depot Six-Inch Adjustable Wrench 2,763 ppm Lead in the rubberized handle [90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]
Home Depot six-inch adjustable wrench: 2.763 ppm lead (in the rubberized handle). Matchbox car included for size! The amount of lead that is considered toxic in an item intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm lead or higher. Tools are not regulated for lead (and not considered items intended for use by children)…
Newer (c. 2014) Orange Painted Michael Graves Hand Citrus Juicer: 429 ppm Lead
Newish! (tested in July of 2014) orange painted “Michael Graves” metal hand juicer. Positive for Lead at 429 ppm when tested with an XRF instrument. Most of the juicers like this that I have tested have been positive for high levels of lead. Click HERE to see a few more examples. For context: the amount…