Lead in Ceramic Ware : Part 2

by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

(Page 2 of 2)

FDA field officers conducted a survey from November 1986 to October 1987 to look at the lead levels in pottery sold in shops across the country. Half the pottery samples they collected were made in United States' factories, and half were imported from foreign countries. However, all of the 4.4 percent of the products with violative lead levels were from foreign producers.

In a different activity, FDA contracted with the states of Colorado and New Mexico to test Mexican ceramic products sold at small retail outlets in those states. FDA inspectors focus their efforts on large entries and often do not sample small batches of imports. The Colorado and New Mexico chemists chose pieces that had fallen through the cracks of FDA inspections and found an alarmingly high violation rate. Of the 123 imported samples tested in Colorado, 19 — or 15 percent — were violative. Of the 68 samples of ceramic products tested in New Mexico, 14 — or 21 percent — contained lead levels above the FDA standards. One bowl, analyzed in Colorado, leached 8,000 ppm of lead.

Each country presents a different picture, and FDA has concentrated testing programs on products from countries with histories of violations. Fortunately, there are countries such as Japan and the United Kingdom that have good quality control procedures, similar to those in the United States.

The People's Republic of China and FDA entered into an agreement in 1988 to ensure that ceramic products shipped to the United States would be inspected for safety. FDA now is working on similar agreements with other countries, such as Italy, Spain and Hong Kong.

FDA Proposal

FDA began setting lead limits for ceramic and other products after a California family in 1969 suffered acute lead poisoning from drinking orange juice stored in a pitcher bought in Mexico. To deal with lead in ceramic products, FDA in 1971 established what are known as "action levels." These levels provided guidance to FDA investigators on taking enforcement action, such as working with U.S. companies to recall domestic wares or detaining foreign shipments at ports of entry.

As toxicology research has demonstrated that exposure to smaller amounts of lead may be hazardous, FDA has tightened its restrictions on the amount of lead that products may leach. In June 1989, the agency proposed lowering the allowable limit for pitchers of all sizes (except creamers) to 0.1 ppm of an acidic test solution.

Currently, pitchers are allowed to leach 2.5 to 5.0 ppm. The lower figure is for pitchers greater than 1.1 liters, the higher for pitchers smaller than 1.1 liters. For plates and saucers, the level of lead that can leach into food over a 24-hour period cannot exceed 7 ppm.

FDA's Gould emphasizes that glazes on frequently used ceramic products, such as pitchers or coffee cups, are of most concern from a health standpoint. He particularly cautions consumers to avoid storing acidic foods and beverages in these items.

The new proposal also would require that decorative ceramics that release high levels of lead have fired into them the permanent, conspicuous warning "Not for Food Use — May Poison Food" or have holes to ensure they aren't used for food. Some decorative items (like commemorative plates) have stickers warning that the piece has a high lead content and may be dangerous for food use. However, these stickers can fall off or be removed, so that original owners may forget the warning and future owners may never see it.

Partnership with Consumers

Stepped-up inspection efforts and proposals to lower the allowable lead content are two ways to limit the danger of lead in ceramic products. But, the most uncontrollable problem remains the availability of products that are beyond FDA inspection authority.

In response to a request from FDA, the U.S. Customs Service has included a statement in its booklet for travelers, "Know Before You Go," warning that "Some ceramic tableware sold abroad contains dangerous levels of lead in the glaze which may be extracted by acid foods and beverages. The Food and Drug Administration recommends that ceramic tableware, especially when purchased in Mexico, the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, or India be tested for lead release by a commercial laboratory on your return or be used for decorative purposes only."

The U.S. Department of State and the Department of Defense also are working with FDA to alert tourists and U.S. citizens stationed abroad to the potential dangers of lead in ceramic products. The State Department issues a series of booklets on "Tips for Travelers" that discuss this problem, and a recent brochure on tips for Americans visiting the People's Republic of China includes a warning that dinnerware for sale in the country is not tested for lead and may cause lead contamination in food. Both these booklets are part of the government's attempts to get the message out about the dangers of lead in ceramic products.

"We must be extremely cautious when purchasing ceramic ware in foreign countries," says FDA Commissioner Frank E. Young, M.D., Ph.D. He adds, "regardless of how many resources we throw at this problem, it's going to take a partnership with consumers."

About the Author

www.fda.gov
FDA is A United States government body that oversees medical devices, including contact lenses, intraocular lenses, excimer lasers and eyedrops. In the US, these products must be approved by the FDA before they can be marketed.