SodaStream is one of those products people ask me about constantly. Here's what I found when I actually tested one.
What I tested
SodaStreams have become a popular household appliance — convenient, eco-friendly, and a way to skip single-use plastic bottles. With the popularity comes the question: is there a lead exposure risk? I tested two things separately:
- The SodaStream CO2 cylinder itself, especially the brass valve at the top.
- The carbonated water the machine produces.
Testing the CO2 cylinder
The first thing I tested was the SodaStream CO2 cylinder. Using Fluoro-Spec, I found that the brass top piece of the cylinder did contain a relatively high level of lead, about 20,000 ppm. The cylinder valve emitted a distinctive perovskite glow under the test.
This is actually normal for industrial brass. Lead is commonly added to brass at these concentrations to make the material softer and easier to machine into precision components like valves. The lead is in the valve at the top of the CO2 canister — not in the gas pathway. The SodaStream CO2 canister carries a California Proposition 65 notice referencing this.
The lead is on the surface of the brass valve, not in the water. Unless you're doing something risky like tampering with or ingesting parts of the cylinder, the lead present on the brass component does not pose a meaningful exposure risk under normal use.
Testing the carbonated water
To check the actual water people drink, I tested water carbonated with multiple SodaStream products. None of the carbonated water samples showed any detectable lead levels when evaluated with the testing equipment.
I went a step further: I sprayed a significant amount of the gas directly into a filter and then washed the filter with acidified water. No lead was detected. As a final calibration step, I spiked one of the samples with a known 5 PPB of lead and successfully recovered 5.09 PPB on the test — confirming that the testing process itself was accurate at low concentrations and not just blind to lead.
Final answer
Under normal use: SodaStreams do not introduce lead into carbonated water. The brass valve does contain lead at industrial-brass levels, but it does not transfer to the water under standard operation. Used as intended, SodaStream machines are safe from a lead-exposure standpoint.
If you want to screen any specific item in your home for surface lead — vintage glaze, old plumbing fixture, decorative paint, brass component — Fluoro-Spec gives you visual confirmation in seconds. Stay informed, stay safe, enjoy your sparkling water.
Key facts
- SodaStream brass valve: ~20,000 ppm lead (normal for industrial brass)
- Carbonated water output: no detectable lead
- Filter test (gas through filter): no lead recovered
- Spike recovery: 5 PPB spike → 5.09 PPB recovered (test accuracy confirmed)
- CA Prop 65: SodaStream cylinder carries notice for the brass-valve lead
FAQ
Do SodaStreams put lead in your water?
No — under normal use, no detectable lead in the carbonated water output.
Does the cylinder contain lead?
Yes — about 20,000 ppm in the brass valve. Normal for machined brass; doesn't transfer to water.
Should I be worried?
Not under normal residential use. Don't tamper with or ingest the cylinder.
References
- California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Proposition 65 chemicals list — lead
- ASTM B16/B16M — Standard Specification for Free-Cutting Brass Rod, Bar, and Shapes