Ceramic merchandise is much safer than it used to be ( Fiesta product has n’t coated its plates in uranium since1973 ) , but according toNPR , not all novel ceramic are free of dangerous chemicals . If you own a mug , bowl , dental plate , or other ceramic kitchen item baked in an older kiln , it may carry trace amounts of harmful lead .
Earthenware is often coat with a shiny , ceramic glaze . Historically , booster cable has been used in glazes to give pottery a glossy conclusion and clear up color like orangish , white-livered , and red . The chemical is avoided by potters today , but it can still show up in handmade dishware baked in previous kilns that contain lead residue . Antique Cartesian product from the geological era when lead was a common crafting material may also be unsafe to exhaust or toast from . This is especially rightful when consuming something acidic , like coffee , which can cause any lead shroud in the glaze to leach out .
Sometimes the amount of lead in a intersection is minuscular , but even trace amounts can contaminate whatever you ’re eating or drink . Over time , vulnerability to lead in small doses can contribute to heighten line of descent pressure , lowered kidney role , and reproductive subject . Lead can make evenmore serious problemsin tike , include decelerate forcible and genial ontogeny .
As the dangers of even small amounts of lead have become more wide known , the ceramic industry has gradually eliminated the additive from its product . Most of the big - name commercial ceramic brand , like Crock - Pot andFiesta product , have thin it out all together . Independent artisan have also propel away from working with the ingredient , but there are still some manufacturer , especially overseas , that use it . Luckily , the FDAkeeps a listof the ceramic ware it tests that has been shown to contain Pb .
If you ’re not quick to retire your hand - craft ceramic plate , the FDA offer one potential solvent : Purchase ahome confidential information examination kitand analyze the item yourself . If the tests come back electronegative , your homemade crockery can keep its spot on your dinner party tabular array .
[ h / tNPR ]
This slice was update to clarify that while tether may be present in passee ceramics and old kilns , it ’s no longer a common ingredient in ceramic glaze .
