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Household Items and Imported Goods

Image of colorfully painted pottery including cups, differently shaped plates, and bowls.
Department of Health and Human Services

Household Items and Imported Goods

Lead in household items and imported goods

Lead might be found in products you have in your home. These items include:

  • Painted toys and furniture, especially older toys and furniture
  • Toy jewelry
  • Cosmetics (makeup)
  • Plumbing products like pipes and fixtures
  • Cookware including food or liquid containers made of lead crystal, lead-glazed pottery, or porcelain
  • Dietary supplements
  • Traditional (folk) medicines
  • Herbal remedies
  • Imported spices, including Sindoor (India/Middle East), Tumeric (India), Lozeena (Iraq), and Balguti (India)
Spoonfuls of different spices Imported spices

How am I exposed to lead in household items and imported goods?

Some household items and imported goods may contain lead. Exposure to lead from these items happens when:

  • Cooking or serving food in containers made of lead or glazed with lead-based paints.
  • Using lead-based cosmetics.
  • Using dietary supplements and spices containing lead.
  • Putting lead-based jewelry into your mouth.
  • Chewing on toys that contain lead.
  • Chewing on cribs, windowsills, or other furniture and swallowing lead-based paint chips.
Toddler sitting down on floor and chewing on toy rattle Toddler chewing on a toy

How can I protect myself from lead in household items and imported goods?

To protect yourself and your household from lead in household items and imported goods, you should: 

  • Throw away lead-recalled toys and jewelry
  • Avoid using cosmetics that may contain lead
  • Avoid using traditional (folk) medicines that may contain lead
  • Avoid using cookware that may contain lead
  • Avoid eating imported candies from Mexico
Trash bag being thrown away into container Throwing away lead contaminated items

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