Richard Gralnik on wed 14 may 97
My wife and I stopped at the Mikasa factory outlet store yesterday
because she's tired of the pattern we've had since we got married
10 years ago, and she still doesn't believe that once my kiln is
firing I plan to make her a dinnerware set.
Anyway, as we were comparing designs on bone china plates, I noticed a
little sign on the counter with a yellow triangle. It read something
like "In compliance with Prop. 65 (the one requiring disclosure of hazardous
substances in things the public can buy), this symbol indicates dishes
which use a glaze that contains lead, a substance known to cause cancer
and birth defects."
Well, that got my attention. I did a quick look round the store to see how
many yellow triangles I could find on price tags. I was surprised at the
number of dinnerware sets being sold that used lead-bearing glazes. When
I asked the sales lady she was very nonchalant about it. "Oh, yes. Those
dishes have lead in their glazes." I asked if the ones not tagged were
lead free. "No, they just contain less lead than the legal limit for the
state of California."
What's wrong with this picture?
These were all dishes made in Japan too although most people I've asked
seem to think only dishes from Mexico have lead glazes. And depending on
how you read the sign you might think the hazard was only to pregnant women.
I'd be curious about the results of running one of those lead testing swabs
on both the tagged and untagged dishes.
Richard
Jon Pettyjohn on thu 15 may 97
Hi Richard,
I would be a bit startled by those yellow triangle disclaimers too,
but, my understanding is that it isn't necessarily harmful to have lead
in a glaze, only if the glaze can release the lead in a soluble form can
it enter the body, and the relevant laws up to now have had to do with
lead release rather than lead content. It would seem this is changing.
A law based only on lead content (based on what, weight, fired or
unfired, molecular or ultimate analysis? ) would seem not only
impractical ( how to test? ) but completley ignores important
considerations like firing temp, ratio of silica to flux etc.
Is there a serious proposal to outlaw the sale of all ceramics with
lead content in the U.S., even if small or in a nonleachable form.
This Prop. 65 that you mention would sure seem a step in that
direction.
There is an interesting thread ongoing about toxic chemical release,
with good arguments on both sides. But, as a potter I would resent
anyone telling me I cannot use a toxic material even if the final product
is absolutely safe. Where would the line be drawn? Lead, Manganese,
Barium ,Cobalt, Hydrogen Diox. etc. etc?? I'm not sure where this
Prop. 65 is headed.
Jon Pettyjohn Manila jon@mozcom.com
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> My wife and I stopped at the Mikasa factory outlet store yesterday
> because she's tired of the pattern we've had since we got married
> 10 years ago, and she still doesn't believe that once my kiln is
> firing I plan to make her a dinnerware set.
>
> Anyway, as we were comparing designs on bone china plates, I noticed a
> little sign on the counter with a yellow triangle. It read something
> like "In compliance with Prop. 65 (the one requiring disclosure of hazardous
> substances in things the public can buy), this symbol indicates dishes
> which use a glaze that contains lead, a substance known to cause cancer
> and birth defects."
>
> Well, that got my attention. I did a quick look round the store to see how
> many yellow triangles I could find on price tags. I was surprised at the
> number of dinnerware sets being sold that used lead-bearing glazes. When
> I asked the sales lady she was very nonchalant about it. "Oh, yes. Those
> dishes have lead in their glazes." I asked if the ones not tagged were
> lead free. "No, they just contain less lead than the legal limit for the
> state of California."
>
> What's wrong with this picture?
>
> These were all dishes made in Japan too although most people I've asked
> seem to think only dishes from Mexico have lead glazes. And depending on
> how you read the sign you might think the hazard was only to pregnant women.
>
> I'd be curious about the results of running one of those lead testing swabs
> on both the tagged and untagged dishes.
>
> Richard
>
Mark Issenberg on thu 15 may 97
Hey Richard: There's a Mexican Restaurant in Miami Beach that has great
food and it's all served on lead-glazed Mexican pots. I can't believe
that the health board hasn't caught it. I guess I should call 'em and
tell them. This restaurant has great food but it's like being in Europe
- it seems that everyone smokes. It's foul.
Mark in Miami
PS. Claudia, my girlfriend, just caught your post where your wife isn't
about to sit around waiting for you to make her dinnerware. Claudia
thought that was very funny because she has been asking me to make her a
set of dishes every birthday, Christmas, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day
for the last four years. She says she gave up but I;m not sure. That
could mean just the opposite with her.
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