...you should look at the bottom of your coffee mug. In fact, take all of your coffee mugs and check the bottom of each one. Chances are, most or all of your mugs are stamped "Made in China." It's difficult these days to find a mug that's not made in China, or at the very least, made outside of the USA, but think twice before drinking out of them again before you test them for leachable lead.
Lead can be ingested through contaminated drinking water, and lead can "leach" from ceramic into the food or liquid that it contains. Heating the vessel or filling it with high-acid foods or drinks can increase leaching. Therefore, if your coffee mug contains lead, it's more likely to leach into your mug of hot coffee, tea, chocolate, tomato soup, or chili - those liquids/foods for which you usually use a ceramic mug.
The US Food and Drug Administration has established federal standards for lead levels contained in ceramic porcelain table ware. In 1991, these standards were improved from a maximum of seven micrograms of lead per millimeter to a maximum of three micrograms per milliliter. However, California's standards are even stricter, requiring that manufacturers warn consumers when ceramic tableware contains more than 0.226 micrograms of lead per milliliter. ("Ceramic and Porcelain Table Ware Market in United States of America" www.srilankabusiness.com/ )
In 2007, lead contaminants were found in many "Made in China" ceramic products, causing international concerns. Since then, the Chinese government allegedly has increased its regulation, monitoring and inspections of ceramic table ware manufacturing plants. However, in 2009, there were known cases of lead poisoning in children living close to these plants. ("Dangers of China Glazed Ceramic Coffee Mugs" http://www.ehow.com/)
The USA is the largest consumer in the world of ceramic table ware. China supplies the largest share of that market, and continues to increase, while a majority of US ceramic table ware manufacturing has been outsourced.
Finally, according to my research, all ceramic tableware from Asia, as well as antique ceramic dishes made everywhere, should be tested for leachable lead. Lead testing kits are available in most hardware and paint stores.
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Today's Recommended Product:
Ceramic Mugs Made in USA by The Ceramic Source
I was unable to find a "Made in USA" manufacturer of ceramic mugs/table ware who sells their products to individual consumers. (If you can find one, please post as a comment to this blog.) The Ceramic Source, established in 1975, and located in California, only sells to promotional product distributors (organizations or businesses supplying ceramic mugs for promotional purposes.) The Ceramic Source specializes in USA made ceramic products in unique shapes, styles, and colors in ceramic. including unusual handles, matte colors, hand-painted designs, and deep etch imprinting. All orders are made to order. For more information, go to their web site at: www.ceramic-source.com/
Last Recommended Product: Tom's of Maine (read more in my last blog post.)
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