#AskTamara: Cupcakes, Muffins and Legos! Oh My!
#AskTamara: “What do you use to make muffins and cupcakes???!!!” Hello! Something that I think is really fun/interesting/exciting about my advocacy work is that I NEVER know which of my posts or responses is going to cause a stir on Facebook/Social Media! It’s always a surprise to me, even when – in hindsight – it…
2012 Dollar Tree Red Ball Ornaments: 29 ppm Cadmium + 66 ppm Arsenic (but no Lead!)
Red plastic ball-style Christmas ornament, purchased at the Dollar Tree store, c.2012. Cadmium (Cd): 29 +/- 17 ppm Arsenic (As): 66 +/- 14 ppm Lead (Pb): Non-Detect / Negative Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative All components and finishes tested with an XRF instrument. Here’s a lead-free Christmas decoration option on Amazon.* For #SaferChoices for your family, click…
2003 Blue Glass Ball Christmas Ornament: 748 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe for kids) + 148 ppm Arsenic, too
#LeadedChristmas Glass blue ball Christmas ornament Dated: December 20, 2003 (This was a wedding favor at a Christmas wedding my friend attended.) 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…
#LeadFreeChristmas: Silver & Blue Wire Ribbon, #Arsenic
#Christmas2017 Silver + Blue Snowflake Wire-Rimmed Ribbon Garland. ND for Pb, Hg, & Cd. As = 15 +/ – 8 ppm. Here’s a lead-free Christmas decoration option on Amazon.* Thanks to Amber S. for donating and supporting my advocacy! Each donation helps make a new post possible! For #SaferChoices for your family, click here. If…
#LeadFreeChristmas: Plastic Icicle Garland
#Christmas2017 Silver plastic icicle garland. ND for Pb, Hg, As & Cd. Here’s a lead-free Christmas decoration option on Amazon.* Thanks to Suzanne Braunschneider for donating and supporting my advocacy! Each donation helps make a new post possible! For #SaferChoices for your family, click here. If you would like to support my advocacy work (and…
#LeadFreeChristmas: Ornament Hooks from Target
#Christmas2017 #LeadFreeChristmas – Ornament Hooks From Target c. 2009 ND for As, Pb, Cd & Hg. Here’s a lead-free Christmas decoration option on Amazon.* Thanks to Deidra Augade for donating and supporting my advocacy! Each donation helps make a new post possible! For #SaferChoices for your family, click here. If you would like to support…
Old Navy Glass Ball Christmas Ornaments, c. 2004: Lead Free!
#LeadFreeChristmas – Glass red ball Christmas ornaments. Purchased c. 2004, Old Navy When tested with an XRF instrument these ornaments were negative (Non-Detect) for Arsenic (As), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd) & Mercury (Hg.) All components were tested. (Pictures with and without flash.) Here’s a lead-free Christmas decoration option on Amazon.* To see more Christmas decorations I…
Clear Plastic Golden Glitter Ornaments: 209 ppm Lead in the golden top. [90 is unsafe for kids]
When tested with an XRF instrument these plastic clear ball ornament with golden sparkles (which were tested in 2017) had the following readings: Ball: Lead-free Golden Top: 209 +/- 30 ppm Lead. Non-Detect for Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd) & Mercury (Hg.) Here’s a likely lead-free Christmas decoration option on Amazon.* In general – here are my…
#LeadFree: Blue Plastic Ball Ornaments
#Christmas2017 #LeadFreeChristmas – Blue plastic ornaments. With gold hanging top. ND for Pb, Cd, Hg, & As. Here’s a lead-free Christmas decoration option on Amazon.* Thanks to Christina Louise for donating and supporting my advocacy! Each donation helps make a new post possible! For #SaferChoices for your family, click here. If you would like to…
#LeadFreeChristmas: Striped Ball Ornaments
#Christmas2017 #LeadFreeChristmas c. 2012-2014 – Plastic ball ornaments. From Michael’s ND for As, Pb, Cd & Hg in the ball & top. Here’s a lead-free Christmas decoration option on Amazon.* Thanks to Annie Foley for donating and supporting my advocacy! Each donation helps make a new post possible! For #SaferChoices for your family, click here….
#LeadSafeChristmas: Small Glittered Plastic Balls
#Christmas2017 #LeadSafeChristmas – Plastic small ball ornaments. From Michael’s ND for As, Pb, Cd & Hg in the ball. Top: 89 ppm Pb. Here’s a lead-free Christmas decoration option on Amazon.* Thanks to Jennifer Curtis for donating and supporting my advocacy! Each donation helps make a new post possible! For #SaferChoices for your family, click…
#Leaded: Bathroom Floor Tiles c. 1979
13,000 ppm lead – 1979 tile! [Original tile floors in a 1979 house.] The amount of lead that is considered unsafe (and illegal) in a modern/newly manufactured item intended for children, is anything 90 ppm lead and higher. Floor tiles – while likely used and interacted with by children every day (especially crawling babies!) –…
Newly installed 2014 Kitchen Counter Tile: 368,400 ppm Lead. 90 ppm Lead (& up) is unsafe in items made for children to use.
Newly installed kitchen counter tile: 368,400 ppm lead. Tested in 2014. Portland, Oregon. Tile is not regulated for total lead content (as detectable with an XRF.) This is kitchen tile, that your food sits on every.single.day. My solution is to always use cutting boards and never put utensils or food directly on tiled kitchen counters….
#Leaded: Modern (2015) Floor Tiles
New (2015) 12 inch floor tile: 2,429 ppm lead & 1481 ppm arsenic. *** Even in 2017 floor tiles are not regulated*** The amount of lead that is considered unsafe (and illegal) in an item intended for children, is anything 90 ppm lead and higher. Floor tiles – while likely used and interacted with by children every…
Red & Yellow Brio Train, Made in Sweden: 1,862 ppm Lead & 575 ppm Arsenic
Brio train, “Made in Sweden” age unknown. Tested with an XRF in 2015. Lead (Pb): 1,862 ppm Arsenic (As): 575 ppm To learn more about XRF testing, Click HERE. The amount of Lead that is considered unsafe in a newly manufactured item intended for children in 90 ppm Lead (or higher) in the paint or…
#LeadSafe: “Newer” Made In Sweden Brio Train
Brio trains – “Made in Sweden“. Exact year of manufacture unknown, tested in 2015. Yellow = non-detect for lead. Red = 10 ppm lead. Tested with an XRF instrument. Thanks to Peggy Oehl for donating and supporting my advocacy! Each donation helps make a new post possible! For #SaferChoices for your family, click here. If…
y. 2000 Starbucks Coffee “City Mug” Collector Series: 3,157 ppm Lead (>90 is unsafe for kids) + 496 ppm Arsenic too!
Starbucks City Mug from the year 2,000. Made in Thailand. “City Mug” 3,157 ppm lead & 496 ppm Arsenic. To see a detailed summary of my concerns with Starbucks mugs, Click HERE. For #SaferChoices for your family, click here. If you would like to support my advocacy work (and this website) please consider making a contribution via…
#Leaded: Vintage Ziggy Mug
Ziggy Mug: 33,800 ppm lead Tested July 2014. Thanks to Tania Moxon for donating and supporting my advocacy! For #SaferChoices for your family, click here. If you would like to support my advocacy work (and this website) please consider making a contribution via GoFundMe or PayPal. Thank you!
Portmeirion coffee mug with heart pattern design: 49,000 ppm Lead. For context, 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.
Portmeirion – mug “microwave safe” – 49,000 ppm lead! For #SaferChoices for your family, click here. If you would like to support my advocacy work (and this website) please consider making a contribution via GoFundMe or PayPal. Thank you!
#Leaded: Vintage “You Are The Sunshine” Ceramic Mug
“You Are The Sunshine” Coffee Mug. 3,151 ppm lead, 571 ppm cadmium, & 948 ppm arsenic. (white unglazed ceramic: 20 ppm lead) Tested with an XRF instrument December 2015. Thanks to Kelly Paluso for donating and supporting my advocacy! For #SaferChoices for your family, click here. If you would like to support my advocacy work…
Vintage Corelle Livingware Spring Blossom Green Crazy Daisy Mug: 31,700 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe for kids]
Corelle Livingware – by Corning – Made In the U.S.A. Mug. Crazy Daisy, Spring Blossom Green Pattern. Year of manufacture unknown. Tested in 2014. This cup tested positive for 31,700 ppm Lead (Pb) when tested with an XRF instrument. To learn more about XRF testing, Click HERE. Related: Tamara, why is this a problem? Is this…
Plastic small red Christmas ornaments
#Christmas2017 #LeadFreeChristmas, but #Arsenic! – Plastic small red ornaments. From Fred Meyer’s. ND for Pb, Cd & Hg. As high as 129 ppm As (Arsenic.) #NotAChildsToy. Thanks to Jo Sampson for donating and supporting my advocacy! For #SaferChoices for your family, click here. If you would like to support my advocacy work (and this website)…
#LowLead: New (2017) Waterford China Set
2017 New-In-Box, Waterford China set. Tested with an XRF instrument. All Components tested (and all were in the same range for lead and negative for Hg, As & Cd.). The silver rim part was also tested and the readings were the same as they were on other elements of the dishes. Saucer: 219+/- 30 ppm….
#LeadFree: 1 Cup Round Oxo Food Storage
One-cup clear glass OXO brand food storage container with plastic lid (with inner silicone green rim/ band). Tested with an XRF instrument. Non-Detect (negative) for: lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd.) All components tested. This is a terrific #SaferChoice for your home. To see this exact product on Amazon*, click here! Thanks…