Pier 1 Plate With Stars
Small Pier 1 Decorative Saucer with Stars: 85 ppm lead (+/- 15 ppm). [The stars were positive for 3,615 ppm gold!] Tamara’s Grade: “C” “C” = I would not want to use it in my home. If you offered me something to eat on this when I am visiting you, I would be fine with that….
1972 Handmade Christmas Mug / Teacup: 90,900 ppm Lead + 9,617 ppm Cadmium Too! [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]
Vintage Handmade Christmas Mug from 1972: 90,900 ppm Lead (Pb). 9,617 ppm Cadmium (Cd). Read about #CadmiumConcerns here. For Context: the amount of lead that is considered toxic in a newly manufactured item intended for children is anything 90 ppm or higher in the paint, glaze or coating. Vintage dishes are not regulated. This Christmas cup…
Blue Ball brand canning jar: 53 ppm Lead + 13 ppm Cadmium (safe by all standards.) I avoid the tinted jars.
When tested with an XRF instrument (for a 31 second test – as noted in the photo above) this blue-tinted Ball brand canning jar had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 53 +/- 13 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 13 +/- 6 ppm You can read more about #CadmiumConcerns here. Tamara’s Grade: “C” C = I would not…
Blue Glass Pyrex Custard Dish
Blue Glass Pyrex Custard Dish: Lead-Free! (“Non-Detect for Lead!”) Tamara’s Grade: “A+” An A+ means I would definitely have these and use these in my home. (In fact, I have the same exact ones in clear glass!) If you appreciate our advocacy work, please consider donating even just $5 via the Lead Safe Mama, LLC #GoFundMe! Check…
Newer Blue Ball Jar
Newer Blue Glass Ball Jar: 61 ppm lead (+/- 16 ppm). Considered safe by all standards. Tamara’s Grade: “C” C = I would not want to use it in my home, I would not want to eat food that you canned in it in your home. If you offered me something to drink in this…
1996 Piano
My piano! The finish was negative for lead. The vinyl of the seat was positive at 292 ppm lead. Vintage pianos are often very high lead. I have not tested many newer ones, but if this is any indication newer ones may have lead free finishes! For those new to my site: 90 ppm (and…
Undying Gratitude! #GoFundMe
I wanted to take this moment to thank all of the friends (and total strangers!) who have contributed to the GoFundMe in support of my advocacy – helping families everywhere protect their children from lead exposure – and supporting those dealing with the aftermath of lead poisoning – in a world with so many – preventable – hazards, and so much work left…
Top Ten Posts in April
Below are the top ten most popular posts on my blog this month; April 2017. Click on any of the images to see the original post. As of 8:30 on 4/29 this blog has had 25,524 unique views this month! Also, here’s the link to contribute in support of my blog and my independent advocacy work via GoFundMe if you…
Vintage Glazed Ceramic Fondue Pot: 255,700 ppm Lead on the interior glaze!!!! Vintage Fondue pots should never be used for food use purposes.
Published: April 28, 2017 Updated: August 18, 2021 Vintage Ceramic Fondue Pot: Interior cream colored glaze 255,700 ppm Lead !!!!! Bare unglazed ceramic (on base of pot) was 38 ppm Lead. Black exterior: 62,400 ppm Lead. Not safe for food use! (How much Lead is too much Lead?) Given the usage and age of this…
Vintage Metal Fondue Pot with Orange and Cream Colored Enamel: 15,300 ppm Cadmium (a known carcinogen.)
Published: April 28, 2017 Updated: August 18, 2021 Enamel Fondue Pot: 15,300 ppm Cadmium. How much Cadmium is too much Cadmium? In the State of Washington there is a limit of 40 ppm Cadmium for cookware and dishes that may be used by children. This is the strictest Cadmium regulatory standard that I am aware…
Made In Mexico Blue Glazed Ceramic Dish: 51,608 ppm Lead + 31,350 ppm Arsenic + more than 100,000 ppm Mercury.
When tested with an XRF instrument this Mexican glazed ceramic bowl – with bird design on the inside had the following readings on the food-surface of the bowl: Lead (Pb): 51,608 ppm Mercury (Hg): >100,000 ppm (greater than 10% Mercury in the glaze) Arsenic (As): 31,350 ppm Takeaway: PLEASE avoid all Mexican pottery (especially for food use…
Yellow Ceramic Target Home Bowl
Yellow Glzed Ceramic Cereal Bowl: LEAD FREE! Tested with an XRF (tested “non-detect” for lead) Target “Home” • Dishwasher Safe, Microwave Safe, Made in China. For More Safer Choices For Your Family Click Here!
Ceramic Child’s mug with Teddy Bear: 15,000 ppm Lead. 90 ppm & up is illegal in modern items intended for use by kids.
Ceramic Baby Cup with Teddy Bear: 15,000 ppm lead. Tested with an XRF instrument. The current amount of lead that is considered toxic in an item intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm Lead and higher in the paint, glaze or coating and anything 100 ppm Lead or higher in the substrate. Items intended for…
Classic Ceramics California Pantry Mug
Classic Ceramics, California Pantry, 1998. Ceramic Mug, Made in Indonesia: 6,913 ppm lead, 532 ppm Cadmium. #XRFTesting FYI: The current amount of lead that is considered toxic in an item intended for children is anything over 90 ppm lead. Items intended for adults (including dishware) are generally unregulated for total lead content. Tamara Rating: F F = If you served…
Blue Corelle Stoneware Mug
Blue Corelle Ceramic Mug: 95 ppm Lead. Made in Thailand. #XRFTesting FYI: The current amount of lead that is considered toxic in an item intended for children is anything over 90 ppm lead. Items intended for adults (including dishware) are generally unregulated for total lead content. This mug would be considered safe by most standards. I would not…
“Classic Greek” Ceramic Coffee Cup!
Coffee cup , ceramic: no lead, no cadmium, no mercury! Woohoo! #XRFTesting FYI: The current amount of lead that is considered toxic in an item intended for children is anything over 90 ppm lead. Items intended for adults (including dishware) are generally unregulated for total lead content. For More Safer Choices For Your Family Click…
Ceramic Cow Creamer; Circa 2010
Ceramic cream cow: 85 ppm lead (purchased at Modcloth). #XRFTesting This item is considered lead-safe by all standards. The current amount of lead that is considered toxic in an item intended for children is anything over 90 ppm lead. Items intended for adults (including dishware) are generally unregulated for total lead content. For More Safer Choices For…
#Random, 6th Grade
Because this is my blog and I can post whatever I want here… I thought it would be fun/ funny to re-share this photo of my 6th grade class (Foster School, Mr. Collins, 1980, Hingham Mass!) with the world. Thanks Paula for sharing this photo with me. Looking back on the past provides so much…
Portland Public Schools Bond – Lead Crusade
My family received this in the mail yesterday (4/27/2017). It is a political mass mailing about the 2017 Portland Public Schools Bond Measure 26-193, coming up for a vote next month (here in Portland, Oregon – USA.) I will be writing a blog post about my thoughts in response to this bond this weekend and will link…
My “Top 11” #AdvocacyGoalsRevised
I am really enjoying reading all of the other / alternate memes of 10 that have come up…(based on the “10-concerts” game floating around Facebook right now)… – Here’s my version: – Top 10+ #LeadPoisoningPrevention Advocacy Goals/ Dreams: – 1. Change the national legislation so ALL SCHOOLS for ANY CHILD or ADULT ANY AGE (including colleges and graduate…
Facebook Reach (Past 28 days!) #MoreFunFacts
Here’s a chart showing the international impact of my Facebook reach for the past 28 days (on just one of my pages)… this is also a super fun set of information! Look at all the countries represented! There are three images below (because I could not capture the full chart in one screenshot) and they…
Fun with #SiteStats… Do I have an international reach? Why yes!
Today I answered a questionnaire that was sent to lead poisoning prevention advocates around the country. It wanted to know if I had a local, national or international reach. I checked “International” without really thinking about it… because off the top of my head I know I am working with/ helping families and other parent…
Across Los Angeles, toxic lead harms children in neighborhoods rich and poor
Here is the article that I helped with (behind the scenes) this past month. [I helped connect the journalist with families in Los Angeles whose children had been exposed to lead hazards.] A special thanks to my friends who took the time to chat with the reporter! The more personal stories we share about the issue,…
Are 3M LeadCheck Swabs “Safe”? I saw on the package that they contain LEAD!
Originally published December, 2013 Updated April 2017 I get this question every now and then – so I thought I would post the question and my answer here. I also asked the folks at 3M for their take: Question: Hi Tamara, I read the back of our lead testing kit, and was so disappointed to…