Lead Database

Soil sent in by a Lead Safe Mama reader from Omaha, Nebraska (XRF test results, May 2023)
XRF readings: Lead: 40 ppm · Cadmium: 26 ppm · Arsenic: 0 ppm Verdict: Low: probably not a concern This Soil sent in by a Lead Safe Mama reader from Omaha, Nebraska (XRF test results, May 2023) reads 40 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 person. That distinction matters for how... Read more...
Soil from Exton, Pennsylvania (XRF test results, April 2023): 40 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 40 ppm · Cadmium: 4 ppm · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Low, probably not a concern 40 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...
Ceramic Tile Sample Test Results — for a tile sent in by a reader in Oklahoma: 100 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 100 ppm · Cadmium: not measured · 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. Independent leach testing on fired ceramics in this range found no detectable lead migration, the lead is chemically bound in the glaze matrix. FluoroSpec gives the definitive surface answer: glow = reactive lead present, no glow = not in accessible form. There is no safe amount of lead. This... Read more...
Russian Khokhloma Wooden Decorated Spoon, 1985
XRF readings: Lead: not measured · Cadmium: not measured · Arsenic: 148 ppm Verdict: Lead-free per XRF No lead detected by XRF. Arsenic detected at 148 ppm. FluoroSpec test will confirm no surface lead reactivity. 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... Read more...
Another favorite “toy” of my 13 year-old-son — Archie McPhee 11761 Accoutrements Yodeling Pickle
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...
February 14, 1905 newspaper (that was inside the walls of my house): 13 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 13 ppm · Cadmium: 2 ppm · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Low, probably not a concern 13 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...
Her Universe My Neighbor Totoro clear glass mug (Studio Ghibli) sold at Hot Topic: 34,000 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 34,000 ppm · Cadmium: 300 ppm · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Very high, avoid food contact 34,000 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. Also: 300 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 of tacks: a box of them... Read more...
Pottery barn made the “naughty list” AGAIN this year — and they will never get any of my business, ever! Why do they still sell Lead-contaminated products in 2021?
XRF readings: Lead: data not on file · Cadmium: 900 ppm · Arsenic: 0 ppm Verdict: Lead-free per XRF This Pottery barn made the “naughty list” AGAIN this year: and they will never get any of my business, ever! Why do they still sell Lead-contaminated products in 2021? carries a Lead-free per XRF 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... Read more...
Here’s a brief update on Medley Home furniture, including a thinly veiled threat from the CertiPUR-US foam folks (with input from their legal team), and my response: 150 ppm lead by XRF
XRF readings: Lead: 150 ppm · Cadmium: not measured · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Low-elevated, below most adult thresholds 150 ppm lead, above the 90 ppm CPSC children's item threshold but well below levels that cause obvious alarm for adult use. 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 matters is whether the lead can actually reach a person. Think... Read more...
Some vintage Legos® test positive for high level of a known carcinogen. Can I tell if my Legos® are safe
XRF readings: Lead: not measured · Cadmium: 75 ppm · Arsenic: not measured Verdict: Lead-free per XRF No lead detected by XRF. Cadmium present at 75 ppm, separate concern for colored glazes. FluoroSpec test will confirm no surface lead reactivity. 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... Read more...
Young Living & doTerra reps have had a lot of questions about my findings of Lead in their diffusers. Here are some answers.
XRF readings: Lead: 100 ppm · Cadmium: 0 ppm · Arsenic: 0 ppm Verdict: Low-elevated: below most adult thresholds This Young Living & doTerra reps have had a lot of questions about my findings of Lead in their diffusers. Here are some answers. 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... Read more...
Rocky Mountain Oils Droplet USB Essential oil Diffuser: Unlike other brands, this is Lead-free in all accessible components!
XRF readings: Lead: data not on file · Cadmium: 0 ppm · Arsenic: 0 ppm Verdict: Lead-Free This Rocky Mountain Oils Droplet USB Essential oil Diffuser: Unlike other brands, this is Lead-free in all accessible components! 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 more...