Post #246806 by TikiJosh on Fri, Aug 4, 2006 12:11 PM

The local Target stores around here do the same thing with some of the fancier diningware. I found some very cool little rice bowls and dipping bowls for Chinese Food night with the Missus, and same thing, all of them said that using them would expose you to lead, etc etc. I wound up buying something from Crate and Barrel (FOR SHAME!) instead, but at least it don't have lead in it.
My understanding of all this, coincides with what others have posted. The fact that lead exists somewhere in the product must be advertised, even if your chances of getting sick/cancer from it are 0%.
Leaded crystal falls under the same category. My thoughts, and I've heard this from others in the medical community-- if you have diningware, etc with lead in it, such as crystal, or homemade ceramics, you're not going to get lead poisoning from using it once in a while-- you'd only bring out your leaded crystal champagne glasses for the nicest of occassions. If you're not using this particular tiki mug every day, you're probably okay. Now if you're using it multiple times every day, you might have an issue.
I remember reading in the Health section of the newspaper a few years ago about a woman who was using a serving platter that she had inherited from her Grandmother's estate. The platter had been made in Mexico or something, was homemade, and had some lead in it. Well, this lady used this platter everyday, and within a few years everyone in her family had lead poisoning. They didn't die or anything, just got sick. She was curious why they never got sick before, and it's because the Grandmother used it very rarely. The lead exposure in small amounts is not going to make you really sick or anything. Being exposed to small amounts every day will add up.