About Pewter Poison

Pewter poisoning is actually lead poisoning, and it comes from ingesting trace amounts of lead that leach into food and drink from antique pewter tableware. When lead builds up in the body over time, it can lead to serious health problems. Children 5 years old and younger are in the highest risk group for lead poisoning and can experience more serious consequences of lead poisoning than adults, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, only antique pewter contains lead.

Lead and Pewter

• Antique pewter was a mixture of tin and lead, often with copper as well. Alloys might contain up to 3 percent lead, which is a small amount in comparison but significant enough to cause lead poisoning when pewter utensils, plates, bowls and drinkware are used regularly.

  Pewter has been in use since 3700 B.C. and became a common material for making tableware in 14th century France among the upper class. Brittania pewter marked the introduction of lead-free pewter, with antimony replacing the lead, in the late 1700s. Now all quality pewter is made without lead, eliminating the danger of poisoning.

Historical Impact

• In addition to exposure to lead through other sources, such as lead-glazed pottery used by all classes of people in America and Europe in the 17th century, eating and drinking almost exclusively from pewter contributed to toxic levels of lead found in the bones of nobles and wealthy colonists from that era. One Virginian colonist, Col. Joseph Bridger, complained in his journals of stomach pains, one symptom of lead poisoning. His bones revealed a lead content of 149 parts per million, reports the Smithsonian Institution. This is triple the amount of lead levels found in contemporary remains, probably due to heavy use of pewter along with lead-glazed ceramics for dining.

Symptoms

• Ingestion of lead may not produce any initial symptoms, but over time the lead attacks the hemoglobin (red blood cells), then the central nervous system and the reproductive system in adults. Childhood lead poisoning symptoms include slowed growth, gastrointestinal difficulties, sluggishness and lethargy. Adult symptoms include weak muscles, loss of memory, headache and fatigue as well as low sperm count in men and miscarriage in women, according to the Mayo Clinic. The effects on the hemoglobin may also cause anemia, which leads to pale skin and fatigue.

Treatments

• Minimizing exposure to lead as soon as lead poisoning is suspected is key to treatment. Immediately stop using any pewter kitchenware items, including teapots, cups, plates and utensils. Sometimes pewter may be mistaken for tarnished silver, so if you don't know the origins of an item, stop using it for food until its composition can be verified. In addition to eliminating exposure to known lead items such as antique pewter, chemical treatments and iron supplements may be prescribed.

Other Sources of Pewter Poisoning

• In addition to lead leaching from antique pewter into food, other methods of handling pewter that contains lead can also lead to poisoning. If you cut or grind old pewter, the dust caused by the abrasion can become airborne. Inhaling this leaden pewter dust can cause lead poisoning. Inhaling lead fumes from melting antique pewter may also contribute to lead poisoning. However, performing either of these acts on or eating off modern, lead-free pewter will not lead to poisoning.