By Debbie C. Lindgren
If you live in California, you have probably seen this posting: "Prop 65 Warning: This product contains lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, and other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling." Scary thought, isn't it? If you need to wash your hands after just handling the item, why would you buy it? Does living in a different state mean you don't have to worry? Absolutely not. Lead levels for dinnerware are higher outside of California.
Some people do not realize that a sign posted in a section of the store CAN actually cover more than just the item or rack. Whenever I spot the warning, I ask employees or a manager to which products the warning pertains and I'm always given one of three answers: "I don't know", "It covers everything on the rack", or "It covers everything in the housewares section". According to the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, these are unacceptable answers. The managers of the store need to be able to identify and share why these signs are posted. Insist on being shown the item the warning pertains to and continue to escalate the issue until your question is answered. If they are still not able to identify the items, ask for a telephone number for their customer service or headquarters so that you can file a complaint.
Have you ever tested your plates to see if they contain lead? We did and were shocked to discover that our plates DID in fact contain lead. We purchased them at a local store eight years ago and once I discovered the plates had lead in them, we contacted the store and the manufacturer both of whom deflected blame. We were informed that the FDA allows lead and cadmium to be used in dinnerware. We then contacted the FDA and after 1 year and 9 months, an agent came to our home to pick up our dinnerware for testing. Some of our plates exceeded the California Prop 65 limit as well as the FDA limit. This is not an isolated incident - these dishes were purchased at a chain where I never suspected lead and cadmium were allowed. Unless dishware you purchase is stated to be lead and cadmium free, they most likely contain both.
State and Federal Lead and Cadmium Limits for your dinnerware
All dinnerware sold in the United States is required to meet FDA standards for lead and cadmium. The lead and cadmium can be anywhere in the clay, paint, or glaze. The FDA does allow the use of both substances in dinnerware, but they must be below a certain threshold. A few states (California and Massachusetts) have lower thresholds.
Glassware would not contain lead and cadmium unless they are painted or have decals on them. They would then be subject to the same regulations as dinnerware. Of course, leaded crystal will contain lead and the percentage is usually noted on the crystal.
The following Table indicates Federal and State Legal Limits for glass and ceramic decorations for dinnerware.
| Flatware | Small Hollow | Large Hollow | Cups/Mugs/ Tumblers | Pitchers | Food Container | |
| FDA Ceramic Limits Lead Cadmium | 3.0 ppm 0.5ppm | 2.0 ppm 0.5 ppm | 1.0 ppm 0.25 ppm | 0.5 ppm N/A | 0.5 ppm N/A | N/A N/A |
| California Prop 65 Lead | 0.226 ppm | 0.100 ppm | 0.100 ppm | 0.100 ppm | 0.100 ppm | 0.100 ppm |
| Massachusetts Lead | 2.0 ppm | 2.0 ppm | 2.0 ppm | 2.0 ppm | 2.0 ppm | 2.0 ppm |
The Screening Process
So how do dishes with excessive lead and cadmium end up in our stores? On a federal level there are two ways "faulty" dinnerware could make it to a U.S. store and thus to your table. First, not all dinnerware that gains entry into the U.S. is tested; therefore, some are likely to filter through. Second, some dishes may not be properly labeled and we use them for food rather than their intended purposes.
Most of the sampling by FDA is aimed at manufacturers, particularly those who have had violations in the past. In 1993, the FDA examined 378 lots of domestic ceramicware and had 84 analyzed. 14 lots were in violation of leachable lead.
A study published in Science of the Total Environment, found that two of 28 patterns of imported dishes released lead in levels higher than the FDA allows and 10 patterns released lead that exceeded California Prop 65 limits. One pattern released cadmium exceeding the FDA limit.
On a state level in California, there currently is not a system or inspectors monitoring compliance with Proposition 65. It is up to consumers to report their grievances and the enforcement of the proposition is handled mainly by lawsuits.
How Lead and Cadmium Get Out of Your Dishes and Into Your Body
1. Eating foods with an acid base such as: tomato sauce, pickle juice, orange juice, apples, soy sauce, and salad dressing. Acidic foods cause lead and cadmium to leach from the plates and into your food. A study conducted by Southwest Missouri State University found that repeated extractions with acetic acid show that even after 20 consecutive 24 hour leachings (dishes sitting in the acetic acid), some dishes still release lead in concentrations exceeding FDA limits. Many drinks are also acidic, such as fruit juices, sodas, alcoholic beverages, coffee and tea. Common non-acidic foods and drinks include rice or potatoes; water and milk.
2. Microwaving your food in ceramicware that contains lead. Unsafe lead concentrations were found in some dishes after microwave use and this could result in the ingestions of large amounts of lead. The California Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch advises against cooking or microwaving in dishes that may contain lead since this speeds up the lead leaching process. This makes it crucial to test your plates with a lead test kit. How can you take their advice it you don't know your dinnerware contains lead? Microwaving in glass or plain white bowls is a good option.
3. Automatic Dishwashers can damage the glazed surface of your dinnerware, causing lead to be leached the next time you use your plates. The heat and intensity of the water hitting the plates can cause the glaze to deteriorate off of dinnerware. This would expose the decals, paint and the clay. In addition, the lead and cadmium can contaminate other dinnerware that was placed in the dishwasher. Older dishes are not necessarily a safer bet. Some have been shown to leach more lead into food and drink as they get older.
What is a safe amount of lead?
According to the California Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch (CLPPB), some dishes contain enough lead to cause severe lead poisoning and this has significant health impacts. Other dishes with lower levels pose problems as the lead accumulates in the body over time and contribute to your overall lead exposure.
According to the CLPPB, if the amount of lead exceeds the Prop 65 safe harbor limit, they may STILL be sold in the California. It is only if the amount of lead exceeds FDA limits is it not acceptable to sell in California. The FDA allows 3.0 ppm in plates, thirteen times the safe harbor limit established by Prop 65. When dinnerware exceeds the California Prop 65 limits, they are supposed to be labeled with a yellow "yield" triangle. Stores with fewer than 10 employees are exempt from these labeling requirements.
The FDA states adults absorb 11% of lead reaching the digestive tract, while children absorb between 30-75%. When lead is inhaled, up to 50% is absorbed. Lead is stored primarily in the bones where it accumulates for decades and displaces calcium.
In December of 2006, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) proposed new guidelines for lead toxicity in children. They suggest limiting lead exposure for children at 1 mcg/dl of blood, well below the current FDA standard of 10 mcg/dl of blood. Mild lead poisoning can be associated with hyperactivity (ADHD), irritability, sleeplessness, inability to concentrate, learning disabilities and behavioral problems. More severe lead poisoning has been associated with hearing problems, headaches, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, constipation, muscle soreness, anemia, neurological impairments, seizures, encephalopathy (dementia), and coma.
The New England Journal of Medicine published a study in the late 80's where they correlated exposure to lead before birth to impaired mental and physical performance during their first two years of life. The interesting part is that the lead levels in their blood were within acceptable federal guidelines. The children they studied were from mostly middle and upper income families in Boston and not from old, inner city neighborhoods, where the likelihood of lead exposure from lead sources such as paint chips were known to be a factor. Bottom line, our children should be screened for lead testing on a scheduled basis.
The Hazardous Substances Data Bank states the half-life for lead is around 20 years. This means whatever amount of lead you currently have in your body, in 20 years time; you will still have half of that amount.
Cadmium
The FDA sets its limit for cadmium in tableware at .5 ppm while the state of California sets a maximum allowable daily level of 4.1 mcg per day. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, eating food or water with high levels of cadmium, severely irritates the stomach and leads to vomiting and diarrhea. Long-term exposure of cadmium in the air, food, and water can lead to kidney disease, lung damage and fragile bones.
In the book, Turning Lead into Gold, the authors state that cadmium is ten times more toxic then lead and its effects are ten times more damaging. The half life of cadmium in the body is between 10-25 years. Chronic issues such as asthma, bronchitis, and testicular cancer can develop and there is a strong association with cadmium toxicity and kidney disease.
Cadmium competes with zinc for binding sites and interferes with some of zinc's essential functions. Because of this, if you have a zinc deficiency, the greater the likelihood of becoming cadmium poisoned and inhibiting enzyme reactions. In addition as you age, cadmium exposure predisposes you to hypertension.
The National Institute of Health states that environmental factors such as cadmium can cause high levels of mutations not only by damaging DNA directly but also by inhibiting DNA repair. The Institute warns that "genetically, this can result in a vast increase in errors that could be catastrophic." The defective DNA becomes a source of pathological Estrogen stimulation, linking Cadmium to breast and prostrate cancer.
Do you suspect lead or cadmium in your dishes?
The first step is to test your dishes with a lead test kit. A lead test kit can be purchased in the paint department of many hardware stores. The can also be ordered directly from the manufacturer at www.leadcheck.com/lead-summary.shtml. This particular lead kit is very easy to use. You simply squeeze the end together to release the gel and rub it onto your plates. If it turns pink, your plates have lead. This does not mean it exceeds the FDA levels, it simply means that they contain lead and depending on your eating, microwaving, and dishwashing habits, you may want to replace them. There is some disagreement regarding the validity of home test kits for cadmium, however the manufacturers of CadmiumCheckª have had the performance of their cadmium kit tested proving the validity of the kits. This test works the same way as the lead test kit and is easy to use. Both the kits and the study can be found at http://www.leadcheck.com/CadmiumCheckSwab.shtml.
Positive Test Results
If your lead test is positive, consider replacing your dinnerware. There is a color chart for the lead test kit available at http://www.leadcheck.com/ColorChart.shtml. If your dinnerware exceeds the FDA limit, contact the FDA. A list of FDA offices with contact information can be found at http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/district.html. If you live in California and suspect your dinnerware exceed prop 65 levels, contact the Attorney General at 510-873-6321.
Your family should be screened for toxicity and if found follow your practitioners guidelines for chelation. Chelation is the use of a substance to bind and retain molecules of metals or minerals so they can be removed from the body. The FDA recommends DMSA as a chelator (provoking agent) for lead. There are also natural products such as zeolites, far-infrared saunas, and supplements that can be effective.
Although focus is primarily aimed at lower income families, everyone is at risk and children should be screened annually. Screenings should include blood, urine, feces, and hair. Blood levels indicate recent acute exposure while hair and provoked urine and feces test can give an indication of chronic exposure.
Shopping for Replacement Tableware
When shopping for replacement dishes bring lead test kits with you to the stores and test them prior to purchasing them. Generally, plain white dishes manufactured in the U.S are a safe bet. You should avoid purchasing dishes with decorations over the glaze as they rub off easier than decorations under the glaze.
Fiesta Dinnerware by The Homer Laughlin China Company is lead free and can be purchased on-line. IKEA also carries several selections of lead-free and cadmium free dinnerware.
The Environmental Defense Organization has information on their website regarding purchasing safe dishes including a list of low level lead tableware.
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