Testing for Lead These are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased at your local hardware store or online.
Consumers can buy lead-testing kits in hardware stores or online. The kits contain swabs with instructions on proper use of the swabs and reading of the results. In most cases, the consumer will rub the swab on the food-contacting surface of the pottery.
Lead Test Kits
The most common type uses a sodium sulfide or sodium rhodizonate solution applied to a notched surface or paint chip. Another type of lead test kit uses a swab that you rub onto a painted surface. If the solution or swab change colors, it indicates that lead is present.
In 2024, Washington adopted the Cookware Containing Lead law (Chapter 70A. 565 RCW) to prohibit the sale of cookware containing lead in Washington. As of January 1, 2026: No manufacturer may make, sell, or distribute metal cookware containing lead or lead compounds at a level of more than five parts per million.
Moisten cotton-tipped applicators with a few drops of distilled white vinegar. Rub the moistened cotton on the red surface. If a red color appears on the cotton, Lead Check Swabs cannot be used. Send a sample of the material to a certified laboratory or use another type of field procedure for further testing.
The only way to find out how much lead is in your dishware is to send it to a laboratory for testing. This is expensive and may damage the dishware. Some people use color-change test kits, available at hardware stores, to check for lead. The test kits do not tell you the exact amount of lead in the dish.
Avoid PFOS
The most harmful cookware is going to be anything with a chemical non-stick coating, sometimes branded as Teflon.
According to a 2021 study, dried fruits and vegetables — pineapples, apricots, mangoes, and seaweed — contain much higher lead levels than their fresh or frozen counterparts.
Stainless steel has to be safer, right? No BPA or other chemicals are leaching into the water from it, right? Unfortunately, this might not be the case, as many popular brands of stainless steel water bottles have parts that contain a high percentage of lead.
Don't: Boil water to remove lead ▪ Boiling water will not lower the amount of lead. Use hot water for drinking, cooking or making baby formula and baby cereal. Hot water is more likely to contain higher levels of lead.
Signs of Lead in Your Home
Here are some signs to look out for: Peeling or chipping paint. Old home built prior to 1978 (before lead-based paint was banned in the U.S.) A metallic taste in your mouth.
Some types of cookware — like aluminum and ceramic — are more likely to release metals into foods that are cooked in them. This is especially true if food is cooked for a long time, or if older pots are used. Stainless steel, glass, or cast iron cookware are less likely to release metals or chemicals into foods.
Testing products in a laboratory is the only way to tell for certain if the product contains lead. You should contact your child's health care provider if you think your child has been exposed to lead.
According to TheKitchn, you can expect about five years out of your non-stick pots and pans; it's time to retire anything with a surface that's pitted or starts to peel (to make sure it lasts that long, they offer some tips for taking care of them).
Chelation therapy.
In this treatment, a medication given by mouth binds with the lead so that it's excreted in urine. Chelation therapy might be recommended for children with a blood level of 45 mcg/dL or greater and adults with high blood levels of lead or symptoms of lead poisoning.
In general, it can be concluded that the intake of lead from coffee is low compared to the intake from other dietary sources, and that it does not constitute a major part of the total dietary intake lead. Lead (Pb) is an element which is found in the environment from both natural and industrial sources.
Teflon: Some nonstick pans are sealed with a Teflon coating that can contain PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) or PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene), which can create toxic fumes when heated. These toxic fumes may cause what is known as “polymer fume fever.” Symptoms include breathing difficulty, fever and sore throat.
“Glass, like Pyrex cookware, is a safe option,” Perko said. “Cast iron is a safe option if NOT frying or using high-temperature cooking. If you have or can use or purchase stainless steel pots and pans, they are healthier choices for long-term/lifetime use.”
Trusted for Generations. Calphalon is a brand our customers rely on. Our products are safe, and compliant with with all applicable federal and state safety regulations.
Lead at-home test kits are not available, as they require a blood sample to be taken. Mobile phlebotomy services may be available in your area; they can take your sample and deliver it to a local lab for testing.
The most practical way to test your dishes and ceramics for lead is by using at-home lead test kits. These are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased at your local hardware store or online.
Wondering how to test for lead in cups? It's simpler than you might think. There are kits available that allows you to swab the surface of your cups to check for the presence of lead. These kits are a handy tool for any adventurer looking to ensure their gear is safe.