Thank you for the thank you, Reuters (Josh)!
On December 19th I got the nicest surprise in my inbox – a nice Thank You note from Josh Schneyer at Reuters for helping Reuters with their reporting this year. I’ve invested a lot of time collaborating with journalists over the years—responding to requests for information and helping journalists with their research for articles on…
Leaded Mugs: Yellow & Blue
Yellow Mug: 200 ppm lead Blue Mug: non-detect for lead. No mark or maker At my friend Nancy’s house. She loves “yard-sailing”! #XRFTesting This is one of several posts where I will share very little information and really focus on the photos and the XRF Test results. If you have an interest in learning more…
2012 Minnie Mouse Mug: 108,300 ppm Lead + 28,600 ppm Arsenic (90 ppm is considered unsafe 4 kids.)
This Minnie Mouse mug was purchased new by me in Orlando at a gift shop in February of 2012. [I went there for the National Home Builders show when we were first working on filming my documentary on childhood lead poisoning.] The mug tested positive with an XRF instrument with the following readings: Lead (Pb):…
c. 2010, Darker Blue “Made in Thailand” Corelle Stoneware Mug: 1,585 ppm Lead + 231 ppm Arsenic.
Corelle Stoneware Mugs These are the mugs that come with the lead-free glass plates they sell… Medium Blue Mugs Purchased c. 2010 1,585 ppm Lead 231 ppm Arsenic “Made in Thailand” If you have an interest in learning more about these posts (likely because you are new to my site!) please check out this post…
M-I-C-K-E-Y… Mickey Mouse Anchor Hocking Disney Mug: 75,300 ppm Lead + 15,400 ppm Arsenic (90 ppm Pb is unsafe 4 kids!)
Anchor Brand Made in USA Vintage (1980?) Mickey Mouse Club milk glass mug As high as 75,300 ppm lead and 15,400 arsenic in the painted design The milk glass is “non-detect” for lead and tested positive for arsenic at 8 ppm #XRFTesting This is one of several posts where I will share very little information…
Leaded Mugs: Corelle
Corelle Stoneware Mugs These are the mugs that come with the lead-free glass plates they sell… Light Blue Mugs Purchased 4 or 5 years ago 825 ppm lead 571 ppm arsenic “Made in Thailand” #XRFTesting This is one of several posts where I will share very little information and really focus on the photos and…
2013 Starbucks Coffee Company Espresso Collectable Cup, Peru: 16,900 ppm Lead + 4,606 ppm Arsenic Too!
2013 Starbucks Peru mini mug / espresso cup As high as 16,900 ppm Lead & 4,606 ppm Arsenic. Just because a mug is small does not mean it was made for use by children!!! The amount of Lead that is considered illegal in a newly manufactured item intended for use by children is anything 90…
Ceramic photo mug with puppies: 256,000 ppm Lead + 71,200 ppm Arsenic [Brand unknown]
“Lil’ Angels” puppy photo mug, brand unknown. As high as 256,000 ppm Lead & 71,200 ppm Arsenic. If you have an interest in learning more about these posts (likely because you are new to my site!) please check out this post and this post for a start! For lead-free mug choices click here! Thank you for…
Vistaprint Orca Coatings Photo Mug: 676 ppm Lead & 718 ppm Arsenic. 90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.
Vistaprint brand custom photo mug by Orca Coatings, Made in China. Post originally published: December 24, 2016 Updated: February 19, 2020 When tested with an XRF instrument this mug came in with the following readings: Lead (Pb): 676 ppm Arsenic (As): 718 ppm How much Lead is “too much” Lead? The amount of Lead…
#LeadedMugs: The Volunteer
Souvenir Mug: 101 ppm lead & 434 ppm chromium. Most souvenir or promotional mugs are very high lead! If you have an interest in learning more about these posts (likely because you are new to my site!) please check out this post and this post for a start! Thanks for visiting! For lead-free mug choices click…
Green (Recycled?) Glass Mug: 431 ppm Lead. [For context: 100 ppm Lead is considered unsafe in toys.]
When tested with an XRF instrument this clear glass mug (with green tint, probably recycled glass) had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 431 ppm Mercury (Hg): Negative/Non-Detect (ND) Cadmium (Cd): Negative/Non-Detect (ND) Glassware with a tint often has at least some level of Lead. Recycled glassware also often has at least some level of Lead. If…
Calypso “Carefree” saucer by Syracuse: > 100,000 ppm (10%) Lead. All Syracuse china seems to be high Lead.
In my travels I often visit with people (either in their homes or they come to me) and test their things for lead. I love the opportunity to meet with families in person and to give them tools to make their homes safer. If I find leaded dishes in their homes, I offer advice to…
Ask Tamara: Could you recommend a Lead-free colander?
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…
#AskTamara: What do you use to test for Lead? Can I do this myself at home? How much does it cost?
Originally written on December 19, 2016 Updated, December 11, 2019 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,…
Baking Lead-Free This Holiday Season! Top Tips: Clear Glass, Stainless Steel, Cast Iron, Natural Stone & Untreated Natural Wood
POST UNDER CONSTRUCTION! EXCUSE MY DUST! Some of my readers told me the links on this post (originally written on December 19, 2016) were not working – so I have started revamping it and choosing new items to feature. I will change this note with a note stating it has been updated as soon as…
Portland Green Festival 2016, Dec. 11
Please share!! Thank you. – I’m speaking this Sunday (December 11th) in the afternoon at 3:30 at the Portland Green Festival. (Admission to the Festival is FREE at the Oregon Convention Center, Saturday: 10am – 6pm; Sunday: 10am – 5pm!) – Join me for an open dialogue [in a “neutral space” (not hosted or influenced…
“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…