Q: I’m concerned that the original bathtub that came with my older home might have Lead. What should I do?

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Originally Posted June 17, 2014 Updated April 2017 Question from Lucy (Via MisLEAD: America’s Secret Epidemic Facebook Page). QUESTION: Hi Tamara, We just bought a new house and it has the original bathtub (1956). What would be the best and most effective way to test for lead? I’d also like to test dishes, toys, water….

My Favorite HEPA-Vac…

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Genuine* HEPA-vacs are an important part of managing lead hazards. I personally love the products made by Dustless Technologies, for several reasons. Note:  Dustless was one of the sponsors of my film; I invited them to sponsor my film because I was (and remain) a huge fan of their pioneering products – as comprising some of the best options…

Axxess+ Brand House Key: 9,441 ppm Lead. For context: 90 ppm Lead (and up) is unsafe for items intended for use by children.

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Axxess+ Brand Key: 9,441 ppm lead. Do not let your children play with your house keys as they are almost always very high lead. You can buy lead-free aluminum and stainless keys as alternatives, but they are not always easy to find (ask your local locksmith!) Here’s a link to some of the aluminum ones on Amazon. See…

House key with worn pink decoration: 13,200 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe. Don’t let kids (especially babies) play with real keys!

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Decorated House Key (paint wearing off): 13,200 ppm lead.  The actual key I tested is in the photo at the bottom of this blog post.   Please note:  the lead is in the key itself, not in the decorative paint on the outside of the key. You can buy lead-free aluminum and stainless keys as alternatives, but they…

#XRFTesting: Mountain Valley Spring Water 5 Gallon Bottle

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Mountain Valley Spring Water 5 Gallon Clear Glass Bottle (from their delivery service): Non-Detect (negative!) for Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg) and Arsenic (As)! I personally do not want jars that are positive for lead at any level, when I can choose lead-free jars and bottles. Click these links to see other similar glass jars and glass bottles I have…

Green Glass Water Bottle – Mountain Valley: 86 ppm Lead + 11 ppm Cadmium (in the glass, not the water.)

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When tested with an XRF instrument this Mountain Valley Spring Water green glass water bottle had the following readings: 86 ppm Lead (Pb) 11 ppm Cadmium (Cd) The bottle was Non-Detect (Negative) for Arsenic and Mercury. This level of Lead (and of Cadmium) is considered safe by all standards today. Finding trace levels of Lead…

Louis Vuitton Bag: 5019 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe for kids], 666 ppm Mercury (both found in the metal hardware of the bag)

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The Louis Vuitton bag pictured here had the following readings when tested with an XRF instrument: (Buckle Test Results): 5,019 ppm Lead (Pb) 666 ppm Mercury (Hg) All other parts are non-detect for all of the baddies (Hg, Pb, As, & Cd.) For context (since total toxicant levels in purses are not regulated at all)…

San Pellegrino Water Bottle: 116 ppm Lead in the green glass, 90 is unsafe in items used by kids. Please click & read to learn more.

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  Originally published: April 4, 2017 Updated: January 15, 2023 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,…

How you can help…

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This is the simplest way you can help support my advocacy work at NO EXTRA COST to you! The duck-on-a-bike below is an Amazon affiliate link. If you click on the duck (or any of the links on this page) before you start your Amazon shopping as you normally would, then Amazon sends me a percentage…

Map: Find the Lead-Tainted Water Fountains in NYC Schools

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Click the image below to read the full story! Published March 30, 2017 There are two easy ways you can support my advocacy work if you want to help: 1) Click on the suggested Amazon product links to the right (on this page) before you start your Amazon shopping! You don’t even have to buy any of…