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I'd be interested to know how someone can be sure that the cookware/tableware/cutlery in their home is safe. Is this a result of far lower standards in other p

I'd be interested to know how someone can be sure that the cookware/tableware/cutlery in their home is safe. Is this a result of far lower standards in other places or just a result of that being the region that was tested for the report (the post doesn't say, it just mentions that samples were collected from developing countries). This could very easily be a massive problem in the developed world too and you wouldn't know from the report here.

mrob 3y ago
Here's a study showing various levels of lead leaching into drinks from ceramic mugs found in the US: https://foodsafetyandrisk.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40550-017-0049-7 https://foodsafetyandrisk.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186... Important quote: "The estimated daily dose of lead exceeded the California Maximum Allowable Dose Level of 0.5 μg per day for one of the five mugs tested." Previous HN discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29606600 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29606600
- nayuki 3y ago
  I probably dodged this ceramic problem because I drink from borosilicate glass beakers. (Yes, I buy new, unused labware for cooking/drinking use.)
  - asdff 3y ago
    Are those not too fragile for daily use? A pint glass is so much thicker in comparison than a beaker.
    - nayuki 3y ago
      I'm an adult so it's fine. And it's like $10 if I break one, no big deal. Oh yeah, the beaker doubles as my metric-only measuring cup for cooking. It only has millilitre markings, no fluid ounce or cups at all.
    - arthur2e5 3y ago
      Mechanically more fragile than soda glass, but tougher to temperature shock -- admittedly not that useful for drinking, considering regular mugs also don't often break with boiling water. Good for cooking though: just check out the people mourning these real borosilicate Pyrex measuring cups. To me it's mostly about the aesthetics. I've broken one or two over five years, but they are just too charming to give up on… Light, holds plenty of liquid, and good for pouring from.
    - globular-toast 3y ago
      They use them daily in labs, why not at home. My home is closer to a lab than a pub. No drunk people or children allowed.

mrob 3y ago

Here's a study showing various levels of lead leaching into drinks from ceramic mugs found in the US: https://foodsafetyandrisk.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40550-017-0049-7 https://foodsafetyandrisk.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186... Important quote: "The estimated daily dose of lead exceeded the California Maximum Allowable Dose Level of 0.5 μg per day for one of the five mugs tested." Previous HN discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29606600 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29606600

nayuki 3y ago
I probably dodged this ceramic problem because I drink from borosilicate glass beakers. (Yes, I buy new, unused labware for cooking/drinking use.)
- asdff 3y ago
  Are those not too fragile for daily use? A pint glass is so much thicker in comparison than a beaker.
  - nayuki 3y ago
    I'm an adult so it's fine. And it's like $10 if I break one, no big deal. Oh yeah, the beaker doubles as my metric-only measuring cup for cooking. It only has millilitre markings, no fluid ounce or cups at all.
  - arthur2e5 3y ago
    Mechanically more fragile than soda glass, but tougher to temperature shock -- admittedly not that useful for drinking, considering regular mugs also don't often break with boiling water. Good for cooking though: just check out the people mourning these real borosilicate Pyrex measuring cups. To me it's mostly about the aesthetics. I've broken one or two over five years, but they are just too charming to give up on… Light, holds plenty of liquid, and good for pouring from.
  - globular-toast 3y ago
    They use them daily in labs, why not at home. My home is closer to a lab than a pub. No drunk people or children allowed.