Lead Database

Lead-free: Large White Ceramic Crate & Barrel Martin Hunt Bistro Bowl
XRF readings: Lead: data not on file · Cadmium: 0 ppm · Arsenic: 0 ppm Verdict: Lead-Free This Lead-free: Large White Ceramic Crate & Barrel Martin Hunt Bistro Bowl carries a Lead-Free verdict in the EverythingLead dataset. Numeric XRF data is not on file for this entry. What this XRF reading actually means → XRF measures lead presence on the surface. It does not measure whether that lead can reach a person. That distinction matters for how you should react to this number. Read the full primer. Test your own... Read more...
April, May, June, July, August, September… How toxic is YOUR baseball glove?! Vintage ball gloves can have unsafe levels of Lead: 100 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 100 ppm · Cadmium: 14 ppm · Arsenic: 8 ppm Verdict: Low-elevated, below most adult thresholds 100 ppm lead, above the 90 ppm CPSC children's item threshold but well below levels that cause obvious alarm for adult use. Vintage items commonly have elevated surface lead from historical glazing, this is expected context, not exceptional alarm. FluoroSpec gives the definitive surface answer: glow = reactive lead present, no glow = not in accessible form. There is no safe amount of lead. This number is a starting point, not... Read more...
A winner for “Best Cast Iron Pan!” Stargazer USA-made pre-seasoned: 40,000 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 40,000 ppm · Cadmium: not measured · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Very high, avoid food contact 40,000 ppm lead detected. at this concentration leaching into acidic foods (tomato, citrus, vinegar) becomes a realistic concern even in well-fired ware. FluoroSpec will confirm whether lead is surface-reactive. There is no safe amount of lead. This number is a starting point, not a verdict on your safety. What matters is whether the lead can actually reach a person. Think of tacks: a box of them in a drawer is fine,... Read more...
Vintage Strawberry Shortcake Glasses contain 87,500 ppm Lead — did you have this one: 87,500 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 87,500 ppm · Cadmium: not measured · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Extreme, do not use 87,500 ppm lead, roughly 8x the CPSC 90 ppm children's limit. At this concentration, even fired ceramic glaze carries leaching risk under acidic food conditions. No food contact under any circumstances. FluoroSpec will glow. There is no safe amount of lead. This number is a starting point, not a verdict on your safety. What matters is whether the lead can actually reach a person. Think of tacks: a box of them in... Read more...
Every grandmother’s cheese slicer (apparently! #AmIRight?): 4,159 ppm Lead… Was this on your holiday table?
XRF readings: Lead: 4159 ppm · Cadmium: 176 ppm · Arsenic: 0 ppm Verdict: High: FluoroSpec test required This Every grandmother’s cheese slicer (apparently! #AmIRight?): 4,159 ppm Lead… Was this on your holiday table? tested at 4159 ppm lead, significantly elevated. The bioavailability question (can this lead reach a person?) depends on whether the lead is locked into a fired matrix or sitting on a painted surface. Cadmium reads 176 ppm, which is also flagged territory. What this XRF reading actually means → XRF measures lead presence on the surface.... Read more...
“Sliver” Swiss cheese knife: 19,300 +/- 800 ppm Lead in handle (for context: ≥90 ppm is unsafe in children’s items)
XRF readings: Lead: 800 ppm · Cadmium: 0 ppm · Arsenic: 0 ppm Verdict: Low-elevated: below most adult thresholds This “Sliver” Swiss cheese knife: 19,300 +/- 800 ppm Lead in handle (for context: ≥90 ppm is unsafe in children’s items) reads 800 ppm lead, above the 90 ppm CPSC limit for children's products. Whether the lead can actually reach food depends on whether it's locked into fired glaze (typically not bioavailable) or sitting on surface paint (typically is). What this XRF reading actually means → XRF measures lead presence on... Read more...
Green glass Trader Giotto’s (Trader Joe’s) olive oil bottle: 117 +/: 37 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 37 ppm · Cadmium: not measured · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Low, probably not a concern 37 ppm lead detected, below the 90 ppm children's safety threshold. At this level, most toxicologists would not flag this as actionable for typical adult use. FluoroSpec test: if it doesn't glow, the lead is not in reactive surface form. There is no safe amount of lead. This number is a starting point, not a verdict on your safety. What matters is whether the lead can actually reach a person. Think... Read more...
Is your grandmother’s sewing machine dangerous? 1948 Singer Sewing Machine in Table: 6,238 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 6,238 ppm · Cadmium: not measured · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: High, FluoroSpec test required 6,238 ppm lead detected by XRF. This item is at or above the boundary where ceramic lead can begin to behave differently under acidic conditions. FluoroSpec is the actionable test: glow = retire it, no glow = lower risk. There is no safe amount of lead. This number is a starting point, not a verdict on your safety. What matters is whether the lead can actually reach a person. Think of tacks:... Read more...
Gray KitchenAid-style (Wolf-brand commercial kitchen size) stand mixer blade: 82 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 82 ppm · Cadmium: not measured · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Low, probably not a concern 82 ppm lead detected, below the 90 ppm children's safety threshold. At this level, most toxicologists would not flag this as actionable for typical adult use. FluoroSpec test: if it doesn't glow, the lead is not in reactive surface form. There is no safe amount of lead. This number is a starting point, not a verdict on your safety. What matters is whether the lead can actually reach a person. Think... Read more...
Paparazzi silver sequin cuff bracelet (with possible leather backing): Non-detect for Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, & Arsenic — positive for trace Antimony
XRF readings: Lead: data not on file · Cadmium: 0 ppm · Arsenic: 0 ppm Verdict: Not Lead Safe This Paparazzi silver sequin cuff bracelet (with possible leather backing): Non-detect for Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, & Arsenic — positive for trace Antimony carries a Not Lead Safe verdict in the EverythingLead dataset. Numeric XRF data is not on file for this entry, but the verdict reflects elemental lead detected at action-level concentrations. What this XRF reading actually means → XRF measures lead presence on the surface. It does not measure whether... Read more...
I was really sad when (in 2014) I discovered that this antique maple syrup bucket was positive for 12,500 ppm Lead: 12,500 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 12,500 ppm · Cadmium: not measured · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Very high, avoid food contact 12,500 ppm lead detected. at this concentration leaching into acidic foods (tomato, citrus, vinegar) becomes a realistic concern even in well-fired ware. FluoroSpec will confirm whether lead is surface-reactive. There is no safe amount of lead. This number is a starting point, not a verdict on your safety. What matters is whether the lead can actually reach a person. Think of tacks: a box of them in a drawer is fine,... Read more...
Folks are surprised when I say relatively modern toys from their youth may not be safe for kids. This 1992 toy is painted with Leaded paint: 100 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 100 ppm · Cadmium: 30 ppm · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Low-elevated, below most adult thresholds 100 ppm lead, above the 90 ppm CPSC children's item threshold but well below levels that cause obvious alarm for adult use. For a children's item this is already over the regulatory limit. FluoroSpec gives the definitive surface answer: glow = reactive lead present, no glow = not in accessible form. There is no safe amount of lead. This number is a starting point, not a verdict on your safety. What... Read more...