Is your Child’s Toothpaste Lead Free?
Recently there has been a lot of media attention on the face that many kid’s toothpaste brands actually contain lead, meaning many parents are worried about the specific brand they are using for their children. Even if the toothpaste claims to have no lead in it they aren’t sure if they can trust the manufacturer’s claims. There is now an easy way to test for lead contamination to know you are giving your child a product you can trust.
The Safe Home Lead in Solids Test Kit will let you submit a sample of toothpaste to our EPA-Certified Laboratory to be tested for lead. This kit includes 5 sample collection bags so you can test several different brands of toothpaste to see if they contain lead.
Why Lead in Toothpaste Matters
Lead can cause serious harm to a child’s health even at low levels. These negative health effects include:
- Lower IQ
- Learning and behavior problems
- Hearing and Speech Problems
Because children often consume their toothpaste when using it, lead in their toothpaste will almost always lead to children consuming some level of lead. This routine exposure may build up over time and cause brain and nervous system issues.
Safe Levels of Lead in Toothpaste
The FDA has set limits on lead in toothpaste based on if it’s a fluoride toothpaste or not.
Fluoride containing toothpaste: 20,000 ppb
Fluoride Free Toothpaste: 10,000 ppb
Fluoride containing toothpaste and fluoride-free are classified as different types of products according to the FDA and thus have different levels of allowable lead, not because the fluoride actually adds lead to the products.
It is important to note, that just because toothpaste has limits of allowable levels of lead, does not mean it’s safe for consumption. The FDA also acknowledges that there is no safe level of lead in toothpaste and especially for children.
How Lead in Toothpaste Testing Works
To test for Lead in your toothpaste, you will need to order the Safe Home Lead in Solids Test Kit. You’ll then collect a sample of your toothpaste into one of the sample collection bags and register your sample online.
This kit includes enough material to send in 5 samples so you can compare brands. You will have to pay an analytical fee for each sample submitted ($75).
After registering your kit online you will then send it to our EPA-certified laboratory to be tested. Our chemist will then test the sample for lead and send you a digital report of your results.
Summary:
Because toothpaste is a product that will likely be ingested by your child, there is no safe level of lead. Even small amounts can cause learning and behavioral issues in small children and should be avoided. The best way to test for lead in toothpaste is with the Safe Home Lead in Surfaces Test Kit.