“S’Nope!” – The post I wrote in December of 2016 when Snopes first attempted to discredit my work.
Originally published: 12/3/2016, 7:15 a.m. This blog-post is in response to a piece by a contributing writer to Snopes. In this piece the author questions the FACT that there is an unsafe level of lead in vintage Pyrex items – and asserts that potential harm that could be caused by these leaded items is “unproven”…
Fire Note: 1996 from M-C & Lars
In 2002 our home burned in a fire. It was a total loss and very little “survived”… using the word “survived” loosely. This was the first time that our family lost everything. We had no idea there would be other times over the coming 14 years. For the past 14+ years I have saved…
#AskTamara: The inspector is coming tomorrow, what do I need to know?
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…
Q. Do cast iron pans ever test positive for Lead? A. Sometimes. Q. Are cast iron pans safe? A. Mostly! Click to read more.
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,…
#AskTamara: What kind of water filtration system do you have in your home?
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)…
Ask Tamara: How do you get Lead dust out of laundry? (And toys… concrete patios, or furniture?)
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 sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama, LLC…
December 2014 Letter to the Portland Public Schools Special Education Representative in response to PPS not offering FAPE to our disabled child.
This is a note my husband Len sent out in December to the people on our IEP team – specifically regarding the behavior of Jeff Brown – the SPED rep for our section of the school district. On Dec 7, 2014, at 1:15 PM, Len Rubin wrote: Jeff, In our most recent IEP meeting with…
A Dad’s Perspective: Autism vs. Lead Poisoning
Originally written May 24, 2015 Updated (just the images!) December 2, 2019 Today is my birthday; I’m 57 years old. I mention this not to solicit “Happy Birthday” e-mails – but to illustrate there is not a single day that goes by in our life where Lead poisoning and its impacts are not omnipresent and…
My Take on the “V” Word
This is an ad-free article. We have removed ads from this article to make it easier for you to read. If you would like to support our independent consumer goods testing by contributing (which will also help us keep our more widely-read articles ad-free), click here. Thank you! For those new to the Lead Safe…
Ask Tamara: My parents said they used these vintage items their whole life and I shouldn’t worry. “Your kids will be fine…”
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,…
Avi’s Tenth Birthday (originally posted in 2015)
Originally Posted: January 29, 2015 David “Avi” Benjamin Rubin is ten years old today.These have been the most challenging ten years of my life. In August 2005 Avi was just seven-months old when he was poisoned by the work of painting contractor who did not use lead-safe work practices in preparing the exterior of…
January 12, 2015, Adventure Day #6 – Hawaii
“Visiting my mother – To get the boys away from their negative/ destructive routines and habits and address some of their physical and mental health issues…Day 6” Today was probably one of my most challenging days of parenting – but I learned so much (and will probably need to expound upon this when I am…
January 8, 2015, Adventure Day #2
Just a quick few thoughts on the second day of our adventure. Here’s Avi’s leg – people had asked to see the progress. The progress in one day seems miraculous really, but time will tell if it actually gets better or if this is just a slight improvement from being in the salt-water and the…
January 7, 2015, Adventure Day #1
At the airport – saying goodbye to daddy… headed on a 6-hour flight to Granny’s to see if we can: 1) help Avi’s plaque psoriasis / get him better or at least stabilized & 2) focus on some Mama/Charlie time to see if an extended stay away from home (and away from the “regular routines”)…
I don’t like the parent I’ve become.
Written / Published: August 18, 2014 I don’t like the parent I’ve become. I don’t like the parent I’ve become. Afraid. Afraid of taking my kids out in public. Afraid of how they’ll act. Afraid of what they’ll do. Afraid of how others will perceive them. Afraid of how others will react. Afraid others will…
Q: I found lead-paint in my home. Now what?
Christine posted on Facebook (6/23/2014): “What do you do once you find lead paint?? I tested last night and found some deteriorating on the front door jamb and I’m so worried about my 2 year old and 3 month old! I can’t afford to hire a contractor. Would painting over it be enough??” ANSWER Here…
Q: Should Adults Get Tested?
I posted out about getting tested when you are pregnant (on Facebook.) This is Dawn’s comment/ question (6/23/2014): No, I never thought of it [getting a blood lead level test while pregnant.] Before I discovered you I only thought we were exposed to lead via chipping paint. The Organic Mom has posted items such as…
#AskTamara: Can I infer my child’s Blood Lead Level (BLL) by testing myself?
#AskTamara Originally published: June 18, 2014 QUESTION from Cristen (via Facebook) My ND suggested that if I was nervous about having my 3yo and 5yo lead tested (due to the finger stick…I’m pretty sure my 5yo would cry, and my 3yo would FREAK the hell out, major trauma…) that she would do the test on…
#AskTamara: We found leaded plumbing in our newer home! What should we do?
Originally Published June 18, 2014 Question from June 8, 2014 from Sarah (Via Facebook.) QUESTION: Dear Tamara, Hello! So update: we bought some lead testing kits and tested all of my daughters toys. Nothing came up BUT we randomly tested our water pipes and bingo! It looks like the solder is lead. Test came up positive…
#AskTamara: Do you have any recommendations for a non-toxic slow cooker?
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…
Q: Recommendation for a lead-free hose? Lead-free toys?
Published: June 18, 2014 Questions From Nicole (Via MisLEAD: America’s Secret Epidemic Facebook Page.) QUESTION: I just found your page on FB and am a bit overwhelmed with all the information. It makes me want to clean my house and throw out everything! I have a couple questions: do you have a recommendation for a…
Q: Renting a 1950’s House…
May 19, 2014 Kayla QUESTION: Hello! I have come across your site and wondered if you would have the time to answer a question for me? We live in a home in the south built in the 50s. It was completely repainted before we moved in and the lead status is “unknown”. We are renting…
Dear Tamara…
Ala “Dear Abby”… …Stay tuned for a new series of blog posts where I answer your questions about lead hazards and solutions. If you have a question you want answered please post it in the comments below. – Tamara
Philip
I started my undergraduate studies at New York University in 1987. I was in the Drama program at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts – and was in conservatory at the Circle In The Square Studio – towards my bachelor of fine arts in stage acting. 1987. I remember thinking at the time that “Wow,…