Re: Re: /high level of lead

[Guest guest]

, do you use ALA too? How often do you give the DMSA on the "on" days?

Subject: Re: high level of leadTo: mb12 valtrex Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 3:16 AM

We have been using this 3 day /11 day oral DMSA protocal since late September and it has been by far the best intervention in 3 years. I'll qualify that by saying that his gut is in pretty great shape given where it was and we also have homeopathy on board to help prevent lead from resettling in the body -- important. There are other ways to accomplish that like C and NAC and glutithione. Has you DAN suggested anything along those lines? Discuss it. Important.Again, by far the best intervention. It's given him tons of language and we see a really "happy kid." -- best wishes.>> EDTA would be the best one to look into\> high level of lead> > > > Hi Listmates,> > The results of my son's provoke test came back with mild amount of mercury but high amounts of lead. I have my son doing the AC protocol with ALA only. His DAN! wants to add DMSA to chelate for lead. My question: Should we do one high dose of DMSA once a week or the 3 days on, 11 days off protocol with weekend rounds? My DAN! wants to focus on mainly chelating lead. > > Please help us. What is the best way to chelate lead?> > Thank you so much in advance> > Blessings> > Karla>

[Guest guest]

, do you use ALA too? How often do you give the DMSA on the "on" days?

Subject: Re: high level of leadTo: mb12 valtrex Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 3:16 AM

We have been using this 3 day /11 day oral DMSA protocal since late September and it has been by far the best intervention in 3 years. I'll qualify that by saying that his gut is in pretty great shape given where it was and we also have homeopathy on board to help prevent lead from resettling in the body -- important. There are other ways to accomplish that like C and NAC and glutithione. Has you DAN suggested anything along those lines? Discuss it. Important.Again, by far the best intervention. It's given him tons of language and we see a really "happy kid." -- best wishes.>> EDTA would be the best one to look into\> high level of lead> > > > Hi Listmates,> > The results of my son's provoke test came back with mild amount of mercury but high amounts of lead. I have my son doing the AC protocol with ALA only. His DAN! wants to add DMSA to chelate for lead. My question: Should we do one high dose of DMSA once a week or the 3 days on, 11 days off protocol with weekend rounds? My DAN! wants to focus on mainly chelating lead. > > Please help us. What is the best way to chelate lead?> > Thank you so much in advance> > Blessings> > Karla>

[Guest guest]

, do you use ALA too? How often do you give the DMSA on the "on" days?

Subject: Re: high level of leadTo: mb12 valtrex Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 3:16 AM

We have been using this 3 day /11 day oral DMSA protocal since late September and it has been by far the best intervention in 3 years. I'll qualify that by saying that his gut is in pretty great shape given where it was and we also have homeopathy on board to help prevent lead from resettling in the body -- important. There are other ways to accomplish that like C and NAC and glutithione. Has you DAN suggested anything along those lines? Discuss it. Important.Again, by far the best intervention. It's given him tons of language and we see a really "happy kid." -- best wishes.>> EDTA would be the best one to look into\> high level of lead> > > > Hi Listmates,> > The results of my son's provoke test came back with mild amount of mercury but high amounts of lead. I have my son doing the AC protocol with ALA only. His DAN! wants to add DMSA to chelate for lead. My question: Should we do one high dose of DMSA once a week or the 3 days on, 11 days off protocol with weekend rounds? My DAN! wants to focus on mainly chelating lead. > > Please help us. What is the best way to chelate lead?> > Thank you so much in advance> > Blessings> > Karla>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for posting this. This information is very important to us since we will be chelating for lead soon and I would like to find all possible ways to prevent ingesting it. At Crate & Barrel, did you buy any kind of clear glass dishes?

Thank you

Karla

Subject: Re: high level of leadTo: mb12 valtrex Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 6:58 AM

Regarding those lead testing kits available at hardware stores - I bought one of those kits and used it on our dishes, the kid's toys, paint, etc... In every case it was negative. I was very happy about that but my son's (and my) levels of lead were highly elevated. I knew there had to be lead somewhere. I'm in Illinois and another mom on the Illinois Biomedical group was flying in a guy from a company in Seattle who has sophisticated equipment to test for lead, mercury, cadmium, etc... He came to our house too and guess what? He found 7% lead in our everyday, plain cream colored dishes (not from China - from England) and our old everyday dishes (white with blue and yellow pattern / again, not from China) and in our fine China. Our holiday dishes (made in China)have a red, green and gold pattern and did not have any lead. I only mention the info about whether the dishes were made in China because I had a false sense of

security about my dishes being fine because they were made in England. We had several items from China and none of them contained lead. Also, we had cups that had red paint on them and he found cadmium in them which he said was very dangerous if the cups broke.I told the guy that I had used the test kit and found no lead in any of my dishes. He said that was because the lead is underneath the glaze and that the government calls these dishes "safe" because there is no detectable level of lead in the glaze and that they use the same type of surface testing that is in those hardware store kits. But he explained that if we eat something like tomato sauce, then the lead will be leached out right through the glaze and we will ingest it. He said that his company typically finds the most heavy metals in one specific room in the house - the kitchen.He also mentioned things like lead in the vinyl of bean bag chairs, in "lead crystal" people drink

wine out of and in the special paint used in murals that people sometimes have in their kids rooms. He found lead in the paint of 9 of our windows - we have a very old house. Anyway, he recommended we switch to clear glass dishes (we found them for 2.95 a piece at Crate & Barrel on line.)So, that's my 2 cents on those lead testing kits. My guess is that many more of us are ingesting lead into our bodies than we realize.If anyone wants the name of the company we used I will try to find it and send it when I have more time.Hope this helps, in Illinois

[Guest guest]

Thank you for posting this. This information is very important to us since we will be chelating for lead soon and I would like to find all possible ways to prevent ingesting it. At Crate & Barrel, did you buy any kind of clear glass dishes?

Thank you

Karla

Subject: Re: high level of leadTo: mb12 valtrex Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 6:58 AM

Regarding those lead testing kits available at hardware stores - I bought one of those kits and used it on our dishes, the kid's toys, paint, etc... In every case it was negative. I was very happy about that but my son's (and my) levels of lead were highly elevated. I knew there had to be lead somewhere. I'm in Illinois and another mom on the Illinois Biomedical group was flying in a guy from a company in Seattle who has sophisticated equipment to test for lead, mercury, cadmium, etc... He came to our house too and guess what? He found 7% lead in our everyday, plain cream colored dishes (not from China - from England) and our old everyday dishes (white with blue and yellow pattern / again, not from China) and in our fine China. Our holiday dishes (made in China)have a red, green and gold pattern and did not have any lead. I only mention the info about whether the dishes were made in China because I had a false sense of

security about my dishes being fine because they were made in England. We had several items from China and none of them contained lead. Also, we had cups that had red paint on them and he found cadmium in them which he said was very dangerous if the cups broke.I told the guy that I had used the test kit and found no lead in any of my dishes. He said that was because the lead is underneath the glaze and that the government calls these dishes "safe" because there is no detectable level of lead in the glaze and that they use the same type of surface testing that is in those hardware store kits. But he explained that if we eat something like tomato sauce, then the lead will be leached out right through the glaze and we will ingest it. He said that his company typically finds the most heavy metals in one specific room in the house - the kitchen.He also mentioned things like lead in the vinyl of bean bag chairs, in "lead crystal" people drink

wine out of and in the special paint used in murals that people sometimes have in their kids rooms. He found lead in the paint of 9 of our windows - we have a very old house. Anyway, he recommended we switch to clear glass dishes (we found them for 2.95 a piece at Crate & Barrel on line.)So, that's my 2 cents on those lead testing kits. My guess is that many more of us are ingesting lead into our bodies than we realize.If anyone wants the name of the company we used I will try to find it and send it when I have more time.Hope this helps, in Illinois

[Guest guest]

Thank you for posting this. This information is very important to us since we will be chelating for lead soon and I would like to find all possible ways to prevent ingesting it. At Crate & Barrel, did you buy any kind of clear glass dishes?

Thank you

Karla

Subject: Re: high level of leadTo: mb12 valtrex Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 6:58 AM

Regarding those lead testing kits available at hardware stores - I bought one of those kits and used it on our dishes, the kid's toys, paint, etc... In every case it was negative. I was very happy about that but my son's (and my) levels of lead were highly elevated. I knew there had to be lead somewhere. I'm in Illinois and another mom on the Illinois Biomedical group was flying in a guy from a company in Seattle who has sophisticated equipment to test for lead, mercury, cadmium, etc... He came to our house too and guess what? He found 7% lead in our everyday, plain cream colored dishes (not from China - from England) and our old everyday dishes (white with blue and yellow pattern / again, not from China) and in our fine China. Our holiday dishes (made in China)have a red, green and gold pattern and did not have any lead. I only mention the info about whether the dishes were made in China because I had a false sense of

security about my dishes being fine because they were made in England. We had several items from China and none of them contained lead. Also, we had cups that had red paint on them and he found cadmium in them which he said was very dangerous if the cups broke.I told the guy that I had used the test kit and found no lead in any of my dishes. He said that was because the lead is underneath the glaze and that the government calls these dishes "safe" because there is no detectable level of lead in the glaze and that they use the same type of surface testing that is in those hardware store kits. But he explained that if we eat something like tomato sauce, then the lead will be leached out right through the glaze and we will ingest it. He said that his company typically finds the most heavy metals in one specific room in the house - the kitchen.He also mentioned things like lead in the vinyl of bean bag chairs, in "lead crystal" people drink

wine out of and in the special paint used in murals that people sometimes have in their kids rooms. He found lead in the paint of 9 of our windows - we have a very old house. Anyway, he recommended we switch to clear glass dishes (we found them for 2.95 a piece at Crate & Barrel on line.)So, that's my 2 cents on those lead testing kits. My guess is that many more of us are ingesting lead into our bodies than we realize.If anyone wants the name of the company we used I will try to find it and send it when I have more time.Hope this helps, in Illinois

[Guest guest]

Hi , our son just tested very high for cadmium, and I've got to find out where he's getting exposure. What's the name of the testing company you used, where the guy came out to your house, please?Soraya

Yes, we bought the only clear glass dishes they had on their site that had the description "100 non toxic, lead free." They are called Tetra, they are square shaped with rounded edges, and they cost $2.95 per piece (it only comes in these pieces: large plate, small plate, small bowl.) I'm sure there are other non toxic, lead free dishes out there but these are the ones we went with.

Hope that helps!

>

>

>

> Subject: Re: high level of lead

> To: mb12 valtrex

> Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 6:58 AM

>

>

> Â

>

>

>

>

>

> Regarding those lead testing kits available at hardware stores - I bought one of those kits and used it on our dishes, the kid's toys, paint, etc... In every case it was negative. I was very happy about that but my son's (and my) levels of lead were highly elevated. I knew there had to be lead somewhere.

>

> I'm in Illinois and another mom on the Illinois Biomedical group was flying in a guy from a company in Seattle who has sophisticated equipment to test for lead, mercury, cadmium, etc... He came to our house too and guess what? He found 7% lead in our everyday, plain cream colored dishes (not from China - from England) and our old everyday dishes (white with blue and yellow pattern / again, not from China) and in our fine China. Our holiday dishes (made in China)have a red, green and gold pattern and did not have any lead.

>

> I only mention the info about whether the dishes were made in China because I had a false sense of security about my dishes being fine because they were made in England. We had several items from China and none of them contained lead. Also, we had cups that had red paint on them and he found cadmium in them which he said was very dangerous if the cups broke.

>

> I told the guy that I had used the test kit and found no lead in any of my dishes. He said that was because the lead is underneath the glaze and that the government calls these dishes "safe" because there is no detectable level of lead in the glaze and that they use the same type of surface testing that is in those hardware store kits. But he explained that if we eat something like tomato sauce, then the lead will be leached out right through the glaze and we will ingest it. He said that his company typically finds the most heavy metals in one specific room in the house - the kitchen.

>

> He also mentioned things like lead in the vinyl of bean bag chairs, in "lead crystal" people drink wine out of and in the special paint used in murals that people sometimes have in their kids rooms. He found lead in the paint of 9 of our windows - we have a very old house. Anyway, he recommended we switch to clear glass dishes (we found them for 2.95 a piece at Crate & Barrel on line.)

>

> So, that's my 2 cents on those lead testing kits. My guess is that many more of us are ingesting lead into our bodies than we realize.

> If anyone wants the name of the company we used I will try to find it and send it when I have more time.

>

> Hope this helps,

> in Illinois

>

[Guest guest]

Hi , our son just tested very high for cadmium, and I've got to find out where he's getting exposure. What's the name of the testing company you used, where the guy came out to your house, please?Soraya

Yes, we bought the only clear glass dishes they had on their site that had the description "100 non toxic, lead free." They are called Tetra, they are square shaped with rounded edges, and they cost $2.95 per piece (it only comes in these pieces: large plate, small plate, small bowl.) I'm sure there are other non toxic, lead free dishes out there but these are the ones we went with.

Hope that helps!

>

>

>

> Subject: Re: high level of lead

> To: mb12 valtrex

> Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 6:58 AM

>

>

> Â

>

>

>

>

>

> Regarding those lead testing kits available at hardware stores - I bought one of those kits and used it on our dishes, the kid's toys, paint, etc... In every case it was negative. I was very happy about that but my son's (and my) levels of lead were highly elevated. I knew there had to be lead somewhere.

>

> I'm in Illinois and another mom on the Illinois Biomedical group was flying in a guy from a company in Seattle who has sophisticated equipment to test for lead, mercury, cadmium, etc... He came to our house too and guess what? He found 7% lead in our everyday, plain cream colored dishes (not from China - from England) and our old everyday dishes (white with blue and yellow pattern / again, not from China) and in our fine China. Our holiday dishes (made in China)have a red, green and gold pattern and did not have any lead.

>

> I only mention the info about whether the dishes were made in China because I had a false sense of security about my dishes being fine because they were made in England. We had several items from China and none of them contained lead. Also, we had cups that had red paint on them and he found cadmium in them which he said was very dangerous if the cups broke.

>

> I told the guy that I had used the test kit and found no lead in any of my dishes. He said that was because the lead is underneath the glaze and that the government calls these dishes "safe" because there is no detectable level of lead in the glaze and that they use the same type of surface testing that is in those hardware store kits. But he explained that if we eat something like tomato sauce, then the lead will be leached out right through the glaze and we will ingest it. He said that his company typically finds the most heavy metals in one specific room in the house - the kitchen.

>

> He also mentioned things like lead in the vinyl of bean bag chairs, in "lead crystal" people drink wine out of and in the special paint used in murals that people sometimes have in their kids rooms. He found lead in the paint of 9 of our windows - we have a very old house. Anyway, he recommended we switch to clear glass dishes (we found them for 2.95 a piece at Crate & Barrel on line.)

>

> So, that's my 2 cents on those lead testing kits. My guess is that many more of us are ingesting lead into our bodies than we realize.

> If anyone wants the name of the company we used I will try to find it and send it when I have more time.

>

> Hope this helps,

> in Illinois

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you !

Subject: Re: /high level of leadTo: mb12 valtrex Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 6:33 PM

Yes, we bought the only clear glass dishes they had on their site that had the description "100 non toxic, lead free." They are called Tetra, they are square shaped with rounded edges, and they cost $2.95 per piece (it only comes in these pieces: large plate, small plate, small bowl.) I'm sure there are other non toxic, lead free dishes out there but these are the ones we went with.Hope that helps!> > > From: graceofmyheart2001 <avaloncreek@ ...>> Subject: Re: high level of lead> To: mb12 valtrex@ yahoogroups. com> Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 6:58 AM> > > Â > > > > > > Regarding those lead testing kits available at hardware stores - I bought one of those kits and used it on our dishes, the kid's toys, paint, etc... In every case it was negative. I was very happy about that but my son's (and my) levels of lead were highly elevated. I knew there had to be lead somewhere. > > I'm in Illinois and another mom on the

Illinois Biomedical group was flying in a guy from a company in Seattle who has sophisticated equipment to test for lead, mercury, cadmium, etc... He came to our house too and guess what? He found 7% lead in our everyday, plain cream colored dishes (not from China - from England) and our old everyday dishes (white with blue and yellow pattern / again, not from China) and in our fine China. Our holiday dishes (made in China)have a red, green and gold pattern and did not have any lead. > > I only mention the info about whether the dishes were made in China because I had a false sense of security about my dishes being fine because they were made in England. We had several items from China and none of them contained lead. Also, we had cups that had red paint on them and he found cadmium in them which he said was very dangerous if the cups broke.> > I told the guy that I had used the test kit and found no lead in any of my dishes.

He said that was because the lead is underneath the glaze and that the government calls these dishes "safe" because there is no detectable level of lead in the glaze and that they use the same type of surface testing that is in those hardware store kits. But he explained that if we eat something like tomato sauce, then the lead will be leached out right through the glaze and we will ingest it. He said that his company typically finds the most heavy metals in one specific room in the house - the kitchen.> > He also mentioned things like lead in the vinyl of bean bag chairs, in "lead crystal" people drink wine out of and in the special paint used in murals that people sometimes have in their kids rooms. He found lead in the paint of 9 of our windows - we have a very old house. Anyway, he recommended we switch to clear glass dishes (we found them for 2.95 a piece at Crate & Barrel on line.)> > So, that's my 2 cents on those

lead testing kits. My guess is that many more of us are ingesting lead into our bodies than we realize.> If anyone wants the name of the company we used I will try to find it and send it when I have more time.> > Hope this helps,> in Illinois>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info, hope they are willign to come to Portland, Or to check our house. Or maybe they can tell me of a company here locally who does that too.

Again Thank you so much!

Subject: Re: /high level of leadTo: mb12 valtrex Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 9:09 PM

Here is the contact info for the company we used to test for heavy metals. Seth and his brother (I think is his name) own the company and they seemed to be very knowledgeable and committed to their work. They work with a lot of families with kids on the spectrum.Seth GoldbergPresidentEssco Safety Check15906 NE 83rd StreetRedmond, WA 98052P: M: www.essco-safetyche ck.comseth@essco-safetych eck.com> > >> > >> > > From: graceofmyheart2001 <avaloncreek@ >> > > Subject: Re: high level of lead> > > To: mb12 valtrex@ yahoogroups. com> > > Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 6:58 AM> > >> > >> > > Â> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > Regarding those lead testing kits available at hardware stores - I > > bought one of those kits and used it on our dishes, the kid's toys, > > paint, etc... In every case it was negative. I was very happy about > > that but my son's (and my) levels of lead were highly elevated. I > > knew there had to be lead somewhere.> > >> > > I'm in Illinois and another mom on the Illinois Biomedical group > > was flying in a guy from a company in Seattle who has sophisticated

> > equipment to test for lead, mercury, cadmium, etc... He came to our > > house too and guess what? He found 7% lead in our everyday, plain > > cream colored dishes (not from China - from England) and our old > > everyday dishes (white with blue and yellow pattern / again, not > > from China) and in our fine China. Our holiday dishes (made in China) > > have a red, green and gold pattern and did not have any lead.> > >> > > I only mention the info about whether the dishes were made in > > China because I had a false sense of security about my dishes being > > fine because they were made in England. We had several items from > > China and none of them contained lead. Also, we had cups that had > > red paint on them and he found cadmium in them which he said was > > very dangerous if the cups broke.> >

>> > > I told the guy that I had used the test kit and found no lead in > > any of my dishes. He said that was because the lead is underneath > > the glaze and that the government calls these dishes "safe" because > > there is no detectable level of lead in the glaze and that they use > > the same type of surface testing that is in those hardware store > > kits. But he explained that if we eat something like tomato sauce, > > then the lead will be leached out right through the glaze and we > > will ingest it. He said that his company typically finds the most > > heavy metals in one specific room in the house - the kitchen.> > >> > > He also mentioned things like lead in the vinyl of bean bag > > chairs, in "lead crystal" people drink wine out of and in the > > special paint used in murals that people sometimes

have in their > > kids rooms. He found lead in the paint of 9 of our windows - we have > > a very old house. Anyway, he recommended we switch to clear glass > > dishes (we found them for 2.95 a piece at Crate & Barrel on line.)> > >> > > So, that's my 2 cents on those lead testing kits. My guess is that > > many more of us are ingesting lead into our bodies than we realize.> > > If anyone wants the name of the company we used I will try to find > > it and send it when I have more time.> > >> > > Hope this helps,> > > in Illinois> > >> >> >>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info, hope they are willign to come to Portland, Or to check our house. Or maybe they can tell me of a company here locally who does that too.

Again Thank you so much!

Subject: Re: /high level of leadTo: mb12 valtrex Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 9:09 PM

Here is the contact info for the company we used to test for heavy metals. Seth and his brother (I think is his name) own the company and they seemed to be very knowledgeable and committed to their work. They work with a lot of families with kids on the spectrum.Seth GoldbergPresidentEssco Safety Check15906 NE 83rd StreetRedmond, WA 98052P: M: www.essco-safetyche ck.comseth@essco-safetych eck.com> > >> > >> > > From: graceofmyheart2001 <avaloncreek@ >> > > Subject: Re: high level of lead> > > To: mb12 valtrex@ yahoogroups. com> > > Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 6:58 AM> > >> > >> > > Â> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > Regarding those lead testing kits available at hardware stores - I > > bought one of those kits and used it on our dishes, the kid's toys, > > paint, etc... In every case it was negative. I was very happy about > > that but my son's (and my) levels of lead were highly elevated. I > > knew there had to be lead somewhere.> > >> > > I'm in Illinois and another mom on the Illinois Biomedical group > > was flying in a guy from a company in Seattle who has sophisticated

> > equipment to test for lead, mercury, cadmium, etc... He came to our > > house too and guess what? He found 7% lead in our everyday, plain > > cream colored dishes (not from China - from England) and our old > > everyday dishes (white with blue and yellow pattern / again, not > > from China) and in our fine China. Our holiday dishes (made in China) > > have a red, green and gold pattern and did not have any lead.> > >> > > I only mention the info about whether the dishes were made in > > China because I had a false sense of security about my dishes being > > fine because they were made in England. We had several items from > > China and none of them contained lead. Also, we had cups that had > > red paint on them and he found cadmium in them which he said was > > very dangerous if the cups broke.> >

>> > > I told the guy that I had used the test kit and found no lead in > > any of my dishes. He said that was because the lead is underneath > > the glaze and that the government calls these dishes "safe" because > > there is no detectable level of lead in the glaze and that they use > > the same type of surface testing that is in those hardware store > > kits. But he explained that if we eat something like tomato sauce, > > then the lead will be leached out right through the glaze and we > > will ingest it. He said that his company typically finds the most > > heavy metals in one specific room in the house - the kitchen.> > >> > > He also mentioned things like lead in the vinyl of bean bag > > chairs, in "lead crystal" people drink wine out of and in the > > special paint used in murals that people sometimes

have in their > > kids rooms. He found lead in the paint of 9 of our windows - we have > > a very old house. Anyway, he recommended we switch to clear glass > > dishes (we found them for 2.95 a piece at Crate & Barrel on line.)> > >> > > So, that's my 2 cents on those lead testing kits. My guess is that > > many more of us are ingesting lead into our bodies than we realize.> > > If anyone wants the name of the company we used I will try to find > > it and send it when I have more time.> > >> > > Hope this helps,> > > in Illinois> > >> >> >>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info, hope they are willign to come to Portland, Or to check our house. Or maybe they can tell me of a company here locally who does that too.

Again Thank you so much!

Subject: Re: /high level of leadTo: mb12 valtrex Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 9:09 PM

Here is the contact info for the company we used to test for heavy metals. Seth and his brother (I think is his name) own the company and they seemed to be very knowledgeable and committed to their work. They work with a lot of families with kids on the spectrum.Seth GoldbergPresidentEssco Safety Check15906 NE 83rd StreetRedmond, WA 98052P: M: www.essco-safetyche ck.comseth@essco-safetych eck.com> > >> > >> > > From: graceofmyheart2001 <avaloncreek@ >> > > Subject: Re: high level of lead> > > To: mb12 valtrex@ yahoogroups. com> > > Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 6:58 AM> > >> > >> > > Â> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > Regarding those lead testing kits available at hardware stores - I > > bought one of those kits and used it on our dishes, the kid's toys, > > paint, etc... In every case it was negative. I was very happy about > > that but my son's (and my) levels of lead were highly elevated. I > > knew there had to be lead somewhere.> > >> > > I'm in Illinois and another mom on the Illinois Biomedical group > > was flying in a guy from a company in Seattle who has sophisticated

> > equipment to test for lead, mercury, cadmium, etc... He came to our > > house too and guess what? He found 7% lead in our everyday, plain > > cream colored dishes (not from China - from England) and our old > > everyday dishes (white with blue and yellow pattern / again, not > > from China) and in our fine China. Our holiday dishes (made in China) > > have a red, green and gold pattern and did not have any lead.> > >> > > I only mention the info about whether the dishes were made in > > China because I had a false sense of security about my dishes being > > fine because they were made in England. We had several items from > > China and none of them contained lead. Also, we had cups that had > > red paint on them and he found cadmium in them which he said was > > very dangerous if the cups broke.> >

>> > > I told the guy that I had used the test kit and found no lead in > > any of my dishes. He said that was because the lead is underneath > > the glaze and that the government calls these dishes "safe" because > > there is no detectable level of lead in the glaze and that they use > > the same type of surface testing that is in those hardware store > > kits. But he explained that if we eat something like tomato sauce, > > then the lead will be leached out right through the glaze and we > > will ingest it. He said that his company typically finds the most > > heavy metals in one specific room in the house - the kitchen.> > >> > > He also mentioned things like lead in the vinyl of bean bag > > chairs, in "lead crystal" people drink wine out of and in the > > special paint used in murals that people sometimes

have in their > > kids rooms. He found lead in the paint of 9 of our windows - we have > > a very old house. Anyway, he recommended we switch to clear glass > > dishes (we found them for 2.95 a piece at Crate & Barrel on line.)> > >> > > So, that's my 2 cents on those lead testing kits. My guess is that > > many more of us are ingesting lead into our bodies than we realize.> > > If anyone wants the name of the company we used I will try to find > > it and send it when I have more time.> > >> > > Hope this helps,> > > in Illinois> > >> >> >>