Lead Database

2019 miniature ceramic Starbucks cup Christmas ornament (with black iridescent glaze): 110 +/: 18 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 18 ppm · Cadmium: not measured · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Low, probably not a concern 18 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...
2019 miniature Starbucks cup ceramic Christmas ornament (red & green): 529 ppm Cadmium (40 ppm is unsafe for kids)
XRF readings: Lead: 38 ppm · Cadmium: 529 ppm · Arsenic: 0 ppm Verdict: Low: probably not a concern This 2019 miniature Starbucks cup ceramic Christmas ornament (red & green): 529 ppm Cadmium (40 ppm is unsafe for kids) reads 38 ppm lead, below the 90 ppm CPSC threshold for children's products and within the typical XRF noise floor for trace contamination. Cadmium reads 529 ppm, which is also flagged territory. What this XRF reading actually means → XRF measures lead presence on the surface. It does not measure whether... Read more...
2019 Starbucks logo ceramic bag Christmas ornament: 82 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 82 ppm · Cadmium: 55 ppm · 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. Children's items warrant more caution even at low levels. 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... Read more...
Modern (2019/2020) Sur La Table (!) Snowman dish (from Italy): 12,800 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 12,800 ppm · Cadmium: 500 ppm · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Very high, avoid food contact 12,800 ppm lead detected. at this concentration leaching into acidic foods (tomato, citrus, vinegar) becomes a realistic concern even in well-fired ware. Children should not handle this item. FluoroSpec will confirm whether lead is surface-reactive. Also: 500 ppm cadmium present. 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...
Available as of December 2019, at Sur La Table — Deruta Italian salad plate: 16,100 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 16,100 ppm · Cadmium: 600 ppm · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Very high, avoid food contact 16,100 ppm lead detected. at this concentration leaching into acidic foods (tomato, citrus, vinegar) becomes a realistic concern even in well-fired ware. Children should not handle this item. FluoroSpec will confirm whether lead is surface-reactive. Also: 600 ppm cadmium present. 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...
Made in USA Christmas Tree with Star by Ann Clark Cookie Cutters (from Sur La Table — Dec 2019)
XRF readings: Lead: not measured · Cadmium: not measured · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: No readings No numeric XRF data found in this post, may be image-only. FluoroSpec test is the definitive check. 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, the same tacks loose on the kitchen floor are not. Lead locked in a stable... Read more...
2019 Holiday Home Santa dish: 3,168 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 3,168 ppm · Cadmium: 442 ppm · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: High, FluoroSpec test required 3,168 ppm lead detected by XRF. This item is at or above the boundary where ceramic lead can begin to behave differently under acidic conditions. Children should not use this item. FluoroSpec is the actionable test: glow = retire it, no glow = lower risk. Also: 442 ppm cadmium present. There is no safe amount of lead. This number is a starting point, not a verdict on your safety. What matters is... Read more...
How much poison is on your Christmas tree? Mercury glass tree topper: 207 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 207 ppm · Cadmium: 11 ppm · Arsenic: 462 ppm Verdict: Low-elevated, below most adult thresholds 207 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...
Greenbrier International “Christmas Pickle” (Dollar Tree store; Made in China ): 45 ppm Lead (safe by all standards)
XRF readings: Lead: 100 ppm · Cadmium: 0 ppm · Arsenic: 0 ppm Verdict: Low-elevated: below most adult thresholds This Greenbrier International “Christmas Pickle” (Dollar Tree store; Made in China ): 45 ppm Lead (safe by all standards) reads 100 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 the surface.... Read more...
Vintage Shiny Brite (Made in USA or possibly West Germany!) Christmas ornament — blue with white stars: 175,500 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 175,500 ppm · Cadmium: 6,600 ppm · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Extreme, do not use + High cadmium 175,500 ppm lead is extreme by any standard. Even as a display piece this poses a hazard from dust and handling. Vintage items of this era routinely used lead-based pigments. FluoroSpec will glow intensely on this item. NOTE: 6,600 ppm cadmium also detected, a separate and serious concern for colored glazes. There is no safe amount of lead. This number is a starting point, not a verdict on your... Read more...
February 2020 Shutterfly mug with red interior: 174 ppm Lead + 569 ppm Cadmium (a carcinogen known to cause cancer)
XRF readings: Lead: 174 ppm · Cadmium: 569 ppm · Arsenic: 0 ppm Verdict: Low-elevated: below most adult thresholds This February 2020 Shutterfly mug with red interior: 174 ppm Lead + 569 ppm Cadmium (a carcinogen known to cause cancer) reads 174 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). Cadmium reads 569 ppm, which is also flagged territory. What this XRF... Read more...
2019 Creative Co-op Kellie Montana ceramic Christmas plate: 49 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 49 ppm · Cadmium: 1,319 ppm · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Low, probably not a concern + High cadmium 49 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. NOTE: 1,319 ppm cadmium also detected, a separate and serious concern for colored glazes. There is no safe amount of lead. This number is a starting point, not... Read more...