Latest news with #LeadSafeMama
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Scientists find toxic metals linked to autism in popular toothpaste
A startling new investigation has uncovered toxic heavy metals lurking in some of America's most trusted toothpaste brands, including those made for children. Lead Safe Mama, a small business focused on lead-poisoning prevention, sent 51 toothpaste products to an independent lab for testing. The lineup included household names like Crest, Colgate, Sensodyne, Orajel, Burt's Bees, Tom's of Maine, and Hello. A staggering 90 percent tested positive for lead, 65 percent contained arsenic, 47 percent had mercury and 35 percent were found to have cadmium. Many products were found to have more than one of these toxins. All four of these substances are known neurotoxins, capable of damaging brain cells and affecting cognitive development at certain levels. Some research has linked prolonged exposure to these metals with learning disabilities and even autism. Beyond neurological effects, exposure to heavy metals has also been associated with cancer, kidney disease, birth defects, and cardiovascular dysfunction. None of the tested products exceeded the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) limits for exposure to these toxins, though two did exceed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) limit, which is based on wastewater levels. Still, the concern is especially troubling because these metals can easily enter the body not only through ingestion, but also through skin absorption or by being inhaled during brushing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no known safe level of lead or mercury exposure, raising serious concerns about the long-term safety of everyday oral care products. Only five of the tested toothpastes did not contain any heavy metals, including one Orajel product made for kids: Orajel Training Toothpaste. But Lead Safe Mama founder Tamara Rubin called the widespread presence of these toxins in toothpaste 'unconscionable, especially in 2025.' 'What's really interesting to me is that no one thought this was a concern,' she told The Guardian. Rubin said the contamination appears to stem from certain ingredients commonly used in toothpaste, such as hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate and bentonite clay. Hydroxyapatite, a mineral often derived from animal bones, is added to toothpaste for its potential to help teeth absorb calcium. Calcium carbonate — a naturally occurring compound also used as a dietary supplement — is included for its ability to remove surface stains, while bentonite clay is used for its cleaning properties. Notably, the toothpastes with the highest levels of contamination contained bentonite clay, which is known to harbor heavy metals. Rubin also tested samples of hydroxyapatite and calcium carbonate, finding that both contained alarming levels of lead and other contaminants. These ingredients tend to appear more frequently in natural or alternative toothpastes. The product with the highest lead content was Primal Life Dirty Mouth Kids Tooth Powder, which exceeded the EPA exposure limits for both lead and arsenic. VanMan's Miracle Tooth Powder had the second highest lead concentration, but only exceeded the EPA limit for arsenic. The EPA states that exposure should not exceed 5,000 parts per billion (ppb) for both lead and arsenic, 200 ppb for mercury and 1,000 ppb for cadmium. But the FDA's current lead limit for fluoride-free toothpastes is 10,000 ppb, and 20,000 ppb for fluoride toothpastes. Lead Safe Mama also tested some of the most popular toothpaste brands in the US. The chart above shows the products made by these brands that contained the highest levels of lead. Three of these products — Orajel Kids Anticavity Toothpaste (Paw Patrol), Tom's of Maine Kid's Natural Toothpaste and Hello Fluoride Free Toothpaste — are made specifically for children. Research has shown that the adverse health effects of heavy metals on children are much higher than in adults. The federal Baby Food Safety Act of 2024, which is still in the early stages of the legislative process, aims to limit lead in kids' food to 10 ppb. California's limit on lead in baby food is even more strict: six ppb. While these recommended levels may not be directly transferable to toothpaste, most of the dental products Lead Safe Mama tested exceeded them. has reached out to the following brands or their parent companies for comment: Crest, Colgate, Orajel, Sensodyne, Tom's of Maine, Burt's Bees, Hello, Primal Life and VanMan. In an emailed statement, a Crest representative said: 'All our products are safe to use and comply with all regulatory requirements and standards including those set by US Pharmacopeia (USP) and the FDA. We will not market a product until we have thoroughly evaluated its safety. 'We are aware of the report/testing published on the website Lead Safe Mama and are interested to learn more about the testing methodology as well as the findings.' None of the other contacted brands immediately responded to request for comment. Some companies whose products were named in this report hit back, often claiming that the levels of heavy metal contamination Lead Safe Mama found are not concerning, or that lead is found in trace levels throughout the environment and is therefore impossible to avoid. Others sent Rubin cease and desist letters, which she ignored but posted on her blog.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lead and Arsenic Discovered in Trusted Toothpaste Brands
That minty-fresh feeling might come with a hidden cost. A recent study has found that popular toothpaste brands are contaminated with dangerous heavy metals like lead and mercury, posing unexpected health risks every time you brush. A new U.S. study has uncovered a disturbing truth about the products many rely on for daily oral care. The study discovered that popular toothpaste brands, including those marketed for children and as 'natural' or 'eco-friendly,' are contaminated with toxic heavy metals. The investigation, led by consumer advocacy group Lead Safe Mama, tested 51 toothpaste products and found that approximately 90% contained lead. Even more concerning, 65% had traces of arsenic, nearly half tested positive for mercury, and about one-third showed cadmium contamination. Many of these toothpastes contained multiple heavy metals, intensifying health concerns. While the highest detected levels violated safety standards set by Washington State, they still fell within federal limits—limits that public health experts argue are dangerously outdated and insufficient. 'It's unconscionable—especially in 2025,' said Tamara Rubin, founder of Lead Safe Mama. 'What's really interesting to me is that no one thought this was a concern.' Despite proposed legislation like the stalled Baby Food Safety Act of 2024, which seeks to cap lead levels in children's food at 10 parts per billion (ppb), and California's stricter 6 ppb limit, no such regulations currently exist for toothpaste. Rubin suggests the contamination may be linked to ingredients commonly found in toothpaste formulations like hydroxyapatite (often derived from cow bone), calcium carbonate, and bentonite clay. These substances are typically included for their whitening or cleansing properties and dental benefits, but may inadvertently introduce dangerous levels of heavy metals into the product. Several well-known toothpaste brands—including Crest, Sensodyne, Tom's of Maine, Dr. Bronner's, Davids, and Dr. Jen—were flagged in the recent study for containing concerning levels of heavy metals. Despite the serious findings, none of the named companies have taken action to remove lead from their products, according to Tamara Rubin of Lead Safe Mama. Rather than addressing the contamination, some companies responded with legal threats. Rubin revealed that she received cease-and-desist letters from certain manufacturers, which she publicly shared on her blog. In defense, some brands claimed that lead is naturally present in the environment and, therefore, impossible to eliminate entirely. Others dismissed the study's findings as insignificant or unworthy of concern. Neither the U.S. Food and Drug Administration nor Procter & Gamble, the parent company of Crest, has issued a statement regarding the study. On a more positive note, not all toothpaste brands tested showed contamination. Products such as Dr. Brown's Baby Toothpaste were found to be free from lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium. Notably, these safer options also avoided the three high-risk ingredients—hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate, and bentonite clay—suggesting a potential link between formulation choices and contamination levels. The presence of heavy metals in toothpaste poses serious health threats, especially for children. Lead exposure, even at low levels, can impair cognitive development, reduce IQ, and cause behavioral issues. It can also harm kidney function and raise the risk of heart disease over time. Worryingly, all four metals detected in the study—lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic—are classified as carcinogens. Their presence in everyday hygiene products like toothpaste adds to growing concerns over long-term exposure and the cumulative effects on children's health and development. Read the original article on GEEKSPIN. Affiliate links on GEEKSPIN may earn us and our partners a commission.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
There's Something Horrifying in Your Toothpaste
Alarming new research has found that toothpastes are often contaminated with lead and other heavy metals. In tests conducted by the lead safety activist Tamara Rubin, who runs the website Lead Safe Mama, 90 percent of the 51 examined brands were found to contain the toxic metal — in some cases at levels exceeding a state safety limit, The Guardian reports. A number of household names feature unflatteringly, including Crest Regular toothpaste, Colgate Total Whitening toothpaste, and Sensodyne Extra Whitening toothpaste. But most distressing is the over two dozen brands explicitly marketed for children that were implicated by the findings: Colgate Watermelon Burst, a "Paw Patrol" branded Orajel Kids Anticavity toothpaste, and Tom's of Maine Kid's Natural toothpaste. Other heavy metals plagued the lineup, too. 65 percent of the brands contain arsenic, according to the tests, 47 percent contain mercury, and 35 percent contain cadmium. "It's unconscionable — especially in 2025," Rubin told The Guardian. "What's really interesting to me is that no one thought this was a concern." The Food and Drug Administration limit for lead in fluoride-free toothpastes is 10,000 parts per billion (ppb). None of the toothpastes here exceeded that, but it's important to note that no amount of lead exposure is considered safe, especially in children. Exposure to lead in infancy and childhood can damage the brain and nervous system, leading to lifelong learning and behavioral disabilities and lower IQ, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In recent years, Washington state has adopted a stricter 1,000 ppb lead limit in cosmetics, including toothpastes. In Lead Safe Mama's testing, three variants from Redmond, VanMan's, and Primal exceeded that, with the worst offender, Primal, reaching 7,800 ppb. There're even stricter limits for children, the Guardian notes. California's lead limit in baby food is six ppb, and the Baby Food Safety Act of 2024, which still awaits congressional approval, has it at 10 ppb. All but five of the tested brands were over that. Lead Safe Mama was the first to crack that Stanley Cups — yes, remember that whole debacle? — contained lead. Largely run by Rubin, the organization also claims responsibility for six product recalls since 2022. Most of its tests use an x-ray fluorescence (XRF) lead detection tool, a non-destructive form of detection. Rubin has received some criticism for allegedly profiting off its alarming claims through affiliate links for "lead-free" products on its website. What is causing the lead contamination is unclear. Rubin suspects that it may lie in some of the ingredients added to the toothpaste, including hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate and bentonite clay, she told the Guardian. "A foundation of the work of LSM is the understanding (and agreement with the scientific and medical consensus) that there is no safe level of lead exposure for humans," Rubin wrote in a post accompanying the researchers, "and that we (as consumers) should demand that companies be held accountable for manufacturing and selling lead-contaminated products, especially products marketed and sold for use by children." More on contamination: You Might Not Want to Touch Receipts After Seeing This Horrifying Research
Express Tribune
18-04-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Dangerous heavy metals found in popular toothpaste brands, including lead
A new US study has revealed that many popular toothpaste brands, including some for children and others marketed as natural or green, are contaminated with dangerous levels of lead and other heavy metals. Lead Safe Mama, the consumer advocacy group behind the investigation, tested 51 toothpaste brands and found that around 90 percent contained lead. Additionally, 65 percent contained arsenic, nearly half tested positive for mercury, and about one-third showed traces of cadmium. Many brands were found to contain multiple heavy metals, raising serious health concerns. The highest levels discovered violated the state of Washington's safety limits, although they remained within federal guidelines. Public health advocates have criticised federal limits as inadequate, pointing out that even low levels of lead exposure can be harmful. 'It's unconscionable – especially in 2025,' said Tamara Rubin, founder of Lead Safe Mama. 'What's really interesting to me is that no one thought this was a concern.' Exposure to lead can damage cognitive development in children, harm the kidneys, and increase the risk of heart disease. All four of the detected metals – lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic – are classified as carcinogens. Among the brands found to contain concerning levels of metals were Crest, Sensodyne, Tom's of Maine, Dr Bronner's, Davids, Dr Jen and others. So far, none of the companies named have agreed to remove lead from their products, Rubin said. Some have responded by sending cease-and-desist letters, which she posted publicly on her blog. Several companies have defended their products by stating that lead occurs naturally in the environment and cannot be completely eliminated. Others dismissed the test results as insignificant. The Baby Food Safety Act of 2024, which is currently stalled in Congress, proposes a limit of 10 parts per billion (ppb) for lead in children's food. California has already implemented a stricter limit of six ppb. However, neither law addresses toothpaste. The FDA and Procter & Gamble, the parent company of Crest, have not yet commented. According to Rubin, the contamination likely stems from specific ingredients used in toothpaste formulations, such as hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate, and bentonite clay. Hydroxyapatite, which is derived from cow bone, is believed to support calcium absorption in teeth. Calcium carbonate is used to whiten teeth, and bentonite clay acts as a cleansing agent. However, not all brands tested positive. Some children's products, including Dr Brown's Baby Toothpaste, were found to be free of lead and other heavy metals. These also did not contain the three suspect ingredients.
The Guardian
17-04-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Toothpaste widely contaminated with lead and other metals, US research finds
Toothpaste can be widely contaminated with lead and other dangerous heavy metals, new research shows. Most of 51 brands of toothpaste tested for lead contained the dangerous heavy metal, including those for children, or marketed as green. The testing, conducted by the Lead Safe Mama non-profit, also found concerning levels of highly toxic arsenic, mercury and cadmium in many brands. About 90% of toothpastes contained lead, 65% contained arsenic, just under half contained mercury, and one-third had cadmium. Many brands contain a number of the toxins. The highest levels detected violate some federal and state limits in the US, though the thresholds have been roundly criticized by public health advocates for not being protective – no level of exposure to lead is safe, the federal government has found. 'It's unconscionable – especially in 2025,' said Tamara Rubin, Lead Safe Mama's founder. 'What's really interesting to me is that no one thought this was a concern.' Lead can cause cognitive damage to children, harm the kidneys and cause heart disease, among other issues. Lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic are all carcinogens. Rubin first learned that lead was added to toothpaste about 12 years ago while working with families that had children with high levels of the metal in their blood. The common denominator among them was a brand of toothpaste, Earthpaste, that contained lead. Last year she detected high levels in some toothpaste using an XRF lead detection tool. The levels were high enough to raise concern, and she crowdfunded with readers to send popular brands to an independent laboratory for testing. Among those found to contain the toxins were Crest, Sensodyne, Tom's of Maine, Dr Bronner's, Davids, Dr Jen and others. So far, none of the companies Lead Safe Mama checked have said they will work to get lead out of their product, Rubin said. Several sent her cease-and-desist letters, which she said she ignored, but also posted on her blog. Some companies have defended themselves, often claiming that lead is found in trace levels throughout the environment and is impossible to avoid. Others have said the levels Rubin found are not concerning. The federal Baby Food Safety Act of 2024, which is stalled in Congress, called for lead limits in kids' food or personal care products like toothpaste of five parts per billion (ppb). California's limit on lead in baby food is two ppb, but it does not include toothpaste. Most toothpastes exceeded those thresholds. The FDA's current lead limit for children is 10,000 ppb, and 20,000 ppb for adults. None exceeded the FDA limits. The state of Washington recently enacted a law with 1,000 ppb limits – several exceeded that and have been reported, Rubin said, but companies have time to get in compliance with the new rules. The FDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did Crest's parent company, Procter & Gamble. Rubin said the contamination seems to lie in some ingredients added to toothpaste, including hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate and bentonite clay. Hydroxyapatite is extracted from cow bone and added because it allegedly helps teeth absorb calcium, though Rubin said she doubts it does. Calcium carbonate is added to help remove stains from teeth. Bentonite clay is a cleaning agent. Those with the highest levels all had bentonite clay. Meanwhile, Rubin's testing of hydroxyapatite and calcium carbonate as individual ingredients showed concerning levels of lead and other metals, suggesting those are the source. Several children's toothpastes, like Dr Brown's Baby Toothpaste, did not test positive for any metals and did not contain the ingredients in question.
