DEAR SUN SPOTS: Do we know if there is a health risk involved in steady daily use of dishes, cups, and silverware made in China or other foreign countries? Do we know if the United States inspects these before sale? Also, is it true that liquids should not be left in lead crystal containers because of contamination from the lead? Thanks for the information. — P.H., Auburn

ANSWER: Sun Spots found a plethora of information on this subject online and has included several edited postings.

Found at www.city-data.com/forum/health-wellness/222007-your-dishes-made-china-lead.html#ixzz0dB6NNGEV:

Because virtually everyone uses glazed china, this is one of the major potential sources of lead risk remaining in the American diet. Potential risk factors include:

• China handed down from a previous generation. These heirlooms were made before lead was recognized as a hazard.

• Homemade or handcrafted china, either from the U.S. or abroad, unless you are sure the maker used a lead-free glaze or high-temperature, commercial firing practices.

• Highly decorated, multi-colored inside surfaces (the part that touches the food and drink).

Decorations on top of the glaze instead of beneath it. Can you feel the decoration when you rub your fingers over it? When you hold the piece at an angle to the light, can you see brush strokes above the transparent glaze surface? Has the decoration begun to wear away?

• Corroded glaze, or a dusty or chalky gray residue on the glaze after the piece has been washed. This type of china could be quite dangerous. Stop using it at once.

Found at http://xtine66.vox.com/library/post/lead-in-china-dishes-a-dish-buyers-guide.html: Lead in china dishes, A dish buyer’s guide from the Environmental Defense Fund, posted Dec. 1, 1994; updated Oct. 5, 2007:

If you are buying new dishes, there is no reason to run any risk at all. Dishes with lead-free glazes and decorations are being made today by many companies, and many more are moving in that direction. Also, many patterns are so well made that they meet the stricter California standards. Ask if the company can guarantee that it meets the California warning standards — in other words, can it be sold in California without a warning? This is particularly important if you are buying china you hope to use every day or over a lifetime.

Note: You may be told that the china you’ve asked about is “legal,” or “meets federal standards set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.” This is not the same as meeting California standards. Federal standards are not as strict as California standards.

Glass dishes have no glaze on them. Glass plates, cups, mugs, etc., without painted or decal-type decorations on their surface, are reliably lead free. Stoneware dishes, which are fairly heavy and often have a low shine, are normally coated with a material that contains no lead. Unless they have painted or decal-type decorations on the surface, stoneware pieces are almost as lead free as glass. Lead-free china is sold by some companies. Very low-lead china meets the strict California warning standards.

Found at http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080727141923AADw0RZ and posted by Indiana University:

Be cautious if you drink out of lead crystal glassware used for beverages. Crystal contains large amounts of heavy metal. Crystalline glass can contain lead, zinc, barium or potassium oxide. Lead crystal is 24 percent or more lead oxide, while full lead crystal contains 30 percent or more. The metal can leach out of the crystal into the beverage, and the amount of lead in the beverage will increase as long as the beverage sits in the crystal. This leaching is increased if the beverage is acidic like soda or orange juice. Here are a few suggestions to minimize lead exposure:

• Pre-soak crystal glasses with a room temperature solution of 50 percent vinegar or lemon juice and 50 percent water for 24 hours. Empty out the glass, rinse it with warm water, and hand wash it with mild detergent and warm water before serving your food or drinks.

• Don’t store liquid in crystal decanters for any length of time. Pre-clean the decanter as above and then fill the decanter just before using it to serve the beverage. Remove the liquid from the decanter as soon as possible.

• Don’t serve hot liquids in crystal, as heat will increase lead leaching in the beverage.

• Don’t drink from lead crystal if you are pregnant and don’t serve drinks to young children in crystal, as lead is particularly dangerous to both babies and children.