Lead Database

Johnson Brothers ships pattern (c. 2005-2007) Made in England: 51,000 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 51,000 ppm · Cadmium: not measured · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Extreme, do not use 51,000 ppm lead, roughly 5x 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...
Wedgwood Queen’s Ware (c. 2005-2007) Penshur Street Place Kent “Romantic England”: 59,800 ppm Lead on the food surface
XRF readings: Lead: 59800 ppm · Cadmium: 0 ppm · Arsenic: 0 ppm Verdict: Extreme: do not use This Wedgwood Queen’s Ware (c. 2005-2007) Penshur Street Place Kent “Romantic England”: 59,800 ppm Lead on the food surface tested at 59800 ppm lead, heavily contaminated. If any of the lead is on the painted surface, decoration, or worn area, expect bioavailable exposure with food contact, mouthing, or abrasion. What this XRF reading actually means → XRF measures lead presence on the surface. It does not measure whether that lead can reach... Read more...
Summary with links to all our articles with XRF test results for hoses: 39,500 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 39,500 ppm · Cadmium: not measured · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Very high, avoid food contact 39,500 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...
This is a summary with links to all articles with XRF toxicant testing of gardening-related items: 39,500 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 39,500 ppm · Cadmium: not measured · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Very high, avoid food contact 39,500 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...
This is a summary with links to all my articles with XRF test results for keys (house keys, car keys, work keys!): 13,200 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 13,200 ppm · Cadmium: not measured · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Very high, avoid food contact 13,200 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 child’s school desk painted with Lead paint (because of course it is!): 5,652 ppm Lead
XRF readings: Lead: 5652 ppm · Cadmium: 288 ppm · Arsenic: 0 ppm Verdict: High: FluoroSpec test required This Vintage child’s school desk painted with Lead paint (because of course it is!): 5,652 ppm Lead tested at 5652 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 288 ppm, which is also flagged territory. What this XRF reading actually means → XRF measures lead presence on the... Read more...
maymom® glass baby bottle purchased on Amazon: as high as 21,400 ppm Lead in the paint (over 90 ppm Lead is illegal in children’s items): 21,400 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 21,400 ppm · Cadmium: not measured · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Very high, avoid food contact 21,400 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. 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... Read more...
WHY IS THIS NOT ILLEGAL?! Jervis & George glass sippy cup jar: 6,422 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe for kids) + 88 Cadmium
XRF readings: Lead: 6422 ppm · Cadmium: 157 ppm · Arsenic: 0 ppm Verdict: High: FluoroSpec test required This WHY IS THIS NOT ILLEGAL?! Jervis & George glass sippy cup jar: 6,422 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe for kids) + 88 Cadmium tested at 6422 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 157 ppm, which is also flagged territory. What this XRF reading actually means... Read more...
Tabor Place claims the paint on their bottles / sippy cups is Lead-free & Cadmium-free. This is simply not true. Yet ANOTHER Lead-painted baby bottle!
XRF readings: Lead: 90 ppm · Cadmium: 0 ppm · Arsenic: 0 ppm Verdict: Low-elevated: below most adult thresholds This Tabor Place claims the paint on their bottles / sippy cups is Lead-free & Cadmium-free. This is simply not true. Yet ANOTHER Lead-painted baby bottle! reads 90 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 →... Read more...
Small newer Weck baby food canning jar with glass lid, as high as 159 +/: 286 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 286 ppm · Cadmium: 55 ppm · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Low-elevated, below most adult thresholds 286 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...
babymoov glass baby food storage jar with plastic orange lid: 37 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 37 ppm · Cadmium: 9 ppm · 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. 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...
8 oz Tiblue baby food jar: 43 ppm Lead + 8 ppm Cadmium. Safe by all standards; full XRF test results in post.
XRF readings: Lead: 43 ppm · Cadmium: 8 ppm · Arsenic: 0 ppm Verdict: Low: probably not a concern This 8 oz Tiblue baby food jar: 43 ppm Lead + 8 ppm Cadmium. Safe by all standards; full XRF test results in post. reads 43 ppm lead, below the 90 ppm CPSC threshold for children's products and within the typical XRF noise floor for trace contamination. What this XRF reading actually means → XRF measures lead presence on the surface. It does not measure whether that lead can reach a... Read more...