Ask Tamara: How quickly did Avi’s blood Lead level (BLL) go down after he was poisoned?
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, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method used…
#LeadedHousehold: Lead in Hoses
Posted: January 6, 2017 Below is a post I originally wrote and shared in June of 2014. I’ve slightly updated it for today. It’s a post I have shared often so I am re-sharing now, so those who are new to my page and my work have the benefit of the information provided. Thanks for…
My son Avi’s first ever Blood Lead Level (BLL) Test, from November 4, 2005 (when he was just 9 months [+ 7 days] old).
Posted: January 6, 2017 Below is a post originally written and shared in March of 2015. It’s a post I have shared often so I am re-sharing now, so those who are new to my page and my work have context for my story as well as the benefit of the information provided. Thanks for…
Vintage Syracuse china “Old Ivory” bowl with gold trim: 31,400 ppm Lead. For context: 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.
When tested with an XRF instrument this “Made in USA” – Syracuse brand vintage “Old Ivory” pattern china bowl was positive for 31,400 ppm Lead. For safer choices in dishware options, click here. To see more vintage china I have tested, click here. To see more Syracuse brand pieces I have tested, click here. As…
Vintage Syracuse plain white ceramic dish, “Carefree” Serene pattern: 30,600 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.
When tested with an XRF instrument this simple white Serene pattern Carefree True China (Made in the USA by Syracuse) had the following reading: Lead: 30,600 ppm For context: the amount of Lead that is considered illegal and unsafe in a modern item made today and intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm…
Syracuse China “Old Ivory” “Made In America” Tea Cup: 26,200 ppm Lead [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]
Antique Syracuse China “Made In America” Old Ivory Teacup; Tested positive for lead (Pb) at 26,200 ppm when tested with an XRF instrument. For context: the amount of lead that is considered toxic in a newly manufactured item intended for use by children is 90 ppm lead or higher (in the paint, glaze or coating.)…
Ikea Child’s Teacup in Blue: Non-Detect (Negative) for Lead
For those new to the Lead Safe Mama 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 four sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama, LLC…
#LeadedAppliance: Baby Food Blender
Baby food blender – center nut (touches food!) 47,700 ppm lead! Sorry, brand/maker is not known. Several brands of babyfood blenders have historically had leaded center nuts. Purchase items like this only from trusted brands/ manufacturers. Tested with an XRF —- #XRFTesting #LeadedDishes • #LeadSafeDishes For more safer choices in dishware options, click here.
#LeadedAppliances: Butterfly Pressure Cooker Lid
Steam vent on Butterfly stainless pressure cooker: in center = 12,000 ppm Lead, on side 6,412 ppm Lead. Made in India Tested with a high-precision XRF instrument —- #XRFTesting #LeadedDishes • #LeadSafeDishes For more safer choices in dishware options, click here.
Butterfly pressure cooker (from India) valves: 120,500 ppm Lead. 90 is unsafe. This was a likely source of poisoning for a child.
Originally written: January 3, 2017 Updated: March 6, 2020 Butterfly Brand Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker – Made in India The inside nut (valve cover / end) on the Butterfly brand pressure cooker pictured above (made in India, and brought with the family to the United States when they moved here from India) tested positive for…
#LeadedAppliances: c. 2010 Cuisinart Blender
Cuisinart Blender Circa 2010. Purchased at Costco. Center nut on top of blade tested positive with 7,941 parts per million (ppm) lead. It is the yellowish leaded brass circle in the center of the blade. No mercury, no cadmium. Tested with an XRF —- #XRFTesting #LeadedDishes • #LeadSafeDishes For more safer choices in dishware options,…
Newer (c. 2014) Yellow Fiestaware Plate: Lead-free, Cadmium-free & Arsenic-free!
Fiestaware yellow plate – newish (as of 2014). When tested with an XRF instrument the dish pictured here had the following readings: Lead (Pb): Non-Detect / Negative Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect / Negative Some colors of the new Fiestaware have tested positive for trace-Cadmium or trace-Lead….
Newer Tangerine Orange Fiesta Bowl: 227 ppm Cadmium (& Lead-free). Fiesta is aware their products have Cadmium.
When tested with an XRF instrument the newer (c. 2012 – 2016) Fiestaware tangerine orange bowl pictured here had the following readings: Lead (Pb): Non-Detect / Negative Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative Cadmium (Cd): 227 ppm • • • Please read about my concerns for cadmium here. For safer choices…
Modern Fiestaware Dark Blue Bowl: 50 ppm Arsenic (but Lead Free!) Wait. What? Arsenic?
When tested with an XRF instrument this modern Fiestaware dark blue bowl had the following readings: non-detect (negative) for Lead, non-detect (negative) for Mercury, non-detect (negative) for Cadmium, This dish tested positive for Arsenic at 50 ppm. While I am NOT an expert in Arsenic toxicity and I would imagine it is best not to…
Newer Fiestaware Purple Bowl: 67 ppm Cadmium [but Lead-free]
Whent tested with an XRF instrument this newer Fiestaware purple bowl had the following readings: Lead (Pb): Non-Detect / Negative Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative Cadmium (Cd): 67 ppm The level of Cadmium found in this bowl is considered a “trace” level (likely a contaminant of the colorant for the…
#AskTamara: Does Vintage Fiestaware Have Lead? Does New Fiestaware Have Lead?
#AskTamara Questions: Does Vintage Fiestaware Have Lead? Does New Fiestaware Have Lead? Answers: Definitely yes & sometimes yes! Below is a vintage teal colored Fiestaware custard cup. When tested with an XRF instrument it was positive for lead (Pb) at 73,500 ppm (seventy three thousand five hundred parts per million.) The only relevant modern standard that…
#LeadFreeDishes: Newer Fiestaware Mug and Saucer
Newer Fiestaware Coffee Cup & Saucers: NO LEAD. However positive for approximately 130 ppm Cadmium. Cadmium is most often found in ceramics that are painted with reds, yellows or oranges, or other colors that may have those colors as part of the formula. • • • Please read about my concerns for cadmium here. Tested…
Modern White Fiestaware Tea Cup: 40 ppm Lead when tested with an XRF instrument (safe by all standards).
When this newer modern white Fiestaware tea cup (purchased c. October 2014) was tested with an XRF instrument it had the following reading: Lead (Pb): 40 +/- 14 ppm The amount of lead considered unsafe in items intended for children is 90 ppm lead or higher in the paint or coating or 100 ppm or higher…
Newer (c. 2012?) Fiestaware Pitchers: 240 ppm Cadmium (in the orange) + 52 ppm Lead (in the yellow).
Fiestaware pitchers (newer): Yellow pitcher: 52 ppm Lead. Newer orange pitcher: 240 ppm Cadmium (no lead.) • • • Almost lead-free / but not quite! The company probably did leach testing and it did not leach any lead. Please read about my concerns for cadmium here. Tested with an XRF The amount of lead considered…
Cadmium Concerns
Finding Lead in dishware is one thing, however I have also recently posted several posts where dishes have tested positive for Cadmium. While I will go in to more specifics below, I think we really ought to be questioning an industry that uses Cadmium at all (regardless of whether or not they test their items…
Newer white Fiestaware dishes (c. 2016): 33 ppm Lead. This is considered safe by all standards.
“Lead Free” Fiestaware small white ceramic plate: 33 ppm Lead. Almost Lead-free / but not quite! The company probably did leach testing and it did not leach any lead. I would feel safe eating off of these plates if I visited your home, but would not choose to own them personally. Tested with an XRF The…
#LeadSafeDishes; Target Home White Plate
Target Home White Ceramic Plate – 74 ppm lead (within “safe” range.) Tested with an XRF The amount of lead considered unsafe in items intended for children is 90 ppm lead or higher. (So this plate WOULD be considered lead-safe by all available standards, even though technically there is not a a standard for total…
#LeadedDishes: Vintage Metal Toy Plate
Vintage toy metal plate with owl: 465 ppm lead • 343 ppm arsenic Tested with an XRF The amount of lead considered unsafe in items manufactured today as intended for children is 90 ppm lead or higher. (so this would NOT be considered lead-safe.) Dishes are not sold as “intended for children” so total lead…
1970s Yellow Plastic “Ingrid” – Made In Chicago Dishes: 4,002 ppm Lead + 1,025 ppm Arsenic
Vintage – made in Chicago by “Ingrid” • 1970s plastic cup and plate. When tested with an XRF instrument this set had the following readings: Yellow Plastic Plate: Lead (Pb): 4,002 ppm Arsenic (As): 1,025 ppm Yellow Plastic Cup: Lead (Pb): 3,235 ppm Arsenic (As): 848 ppm The amount of lead considered unsafe in items manufactured…