If you were shocked by thehundreds of thousand of microplastics we eat up when we chew chewing gum , you ’re in for another spook . fresh research is revealing that dozens of mutual toothpaste brands are contaminated with toxic metals .
Lead Safe Mama(LSM ) , an organization consecrate to preventing childhood lead poison through independent examination of consumer goods , has revealed that popular toothpaste and tooth powder product contain degree of lead , mercury , arsenic , and/or cadmium — all of which are toxic . Though not all science laboratory paper have been published yet,90 % of the 51 canvass toothpastes tested confirming for lead , including well - recognise brand like Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste , Tom ’s of Maine Kid ’s Natural Toothpaste , and Crest Regular Toothpaste . 65 % of the brand contain arsenic , 47 % contain mercury , and 35 % incorporate atomic number 48 .
“ It ’s unconscionable – especially in 2025 , ” Tamara Rubin , Lead Safe Mama ’s beginner , tell theGuardian . “ What ’s really interesting to me is that no one thought this was a care . ”
An organization coordinating community-driven consumer product testing found that many popular tooth paste and tooth powder products contain toxic metals.© designed by Drazen Zigic via Freepik
As of now , the lab test did not detect hint , quicksilver , arsenic , and atomic number 48 in only five of the analyze toothpastes : Dr. Brown ’s Baby Toothpaste , Kids ’ Spry Tooth Gel with Xylitol , Pegciz Toothpaste ( Foam ) , Orajel Training Toothpaste , and Miessence Toothpaste . These brands demonstrate “ that it truly is possible to make up safe toothpaste choices ! ” Rubin write in the LSMblog postsharing the poisonous visibility , which were update Thursday to speculate the most late science laboratory result .
astonishingly , none of the products exceed the US Food and Drug Administration ’s recommended limits for lead pollution in cosmetic , which are10,000 role per billion . Washington State , however , recentlypassed a lawlimiting leash contamination in ornamental products , specifically including toothpaste , to 1,000 ppb , and several brands go by this terminal point . According to theWorld Health Organization , there is no screw level of lead vulnerability that does not negatively affect wellness . In other row , any and all exposure to head is harmful .
“ The 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 write , “ and that we ( as consumer ) should demand that society be held accountable for manufacture and selling pencil lead - contaminated products , especially products market and sell for use by children . ”
According to their website , LSM has been independently quiz consumer goodness — such as plaything , menage items , and jewellery — via crowd - sourced financing for sixteen age . In 2024 they started send C of biotic community - make products — including food , supplements , cosmetics , and personal care item — to third - company science laboratory to test for lead , mercury , cadmium , and arsenic . The lab theme are allpublished online , freely approachable to the public .
While the consequence of the science lab analysis are certainly worry , they also spotlight an inspiring exercise of implicated citizens accept their health into their own hands and empowering others to keep themselves and their fry safe .
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