Toxic Lead in Crystals

Crystals containing toxic levels of lead are contained in many everyday items. Prior to 1970, low blood levels of lead (under 60 micrograms per deciliter of blood) were thought to be safe. Today, however, toxicity level is considered to be from just 2 to 10 micrograms.

Glassware

• Pregnant women should not drink wine from lead crystal glassware.

  Crystal bottles and glassware can legally contain up to 35 percent lead. The level of lead that leeches into white wine doubles within an hour of being put into a lead crystal decanter, and triples within four hours.

Electronics

• Using electronic devices is not believed to cause lead toxicity.

  Lead telluride crystals are used as photoconductors and semiconductors in commonly used electronic devices such as printers and digital cameras. When these devices are disposed of improperly, the lead in the crystals migrates into the environment.

Jewelry

• Lead crystal jewelry should not be handled by children or pregnant women.

  Crystals containing lead are used in many forms of jewelry. Even crystal beads used for handmade jewelry and in arts and crafts can contain lead.

New Age Crystals

• Some crystals used for feng shui may contain lead.

  Crystals are popular within the New Age community, who believe they have influential properties. Some crystals commonly used have toxic levels of lead, including stibnite, vanadanite and wulfenite.

Warning

• Blood tests are not definitive when determining lead toxicity.

  A blood test will reveal only recent exposure to lead; it will not measure lead that has already been absorbed into bones.