DEAR DR. GOTT:
Should we be concerned about the reports of lead in things made in China such as dishes, cups and quilts? I have many dishes and am afraid to use them.
DEAR READER:
To begin with, people used to call dishes “china”. While many dishes certainly came from China and were appropriately named, the connotation stuck. Now a plate or bowl, no matter where it is manufactured, is referred to as china. The media recently covered a news item that some serving dishes manufactured and glazed in Mexico were found to contain lead. People who were in possession of such pieces were urged to test the products for lead content.
If you have any doubt about what you own, I suggest you purchase a home-use kit that can detect lead in plastic and metal toys, painted surfaces, fine china, ceramic ware, and jewelry. There are numerous companies available online, such as www.leadinspector.com, that sell kits. Spend the money, get the peace of mind, or do without those much-loved dishes.
Now, on to the quilt issue. I can’t imagine in my wildest dreams how a quilt could contain lead unless it is made from a metallic component. Let’s put this one out to the readers for their input.
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