Testing Glazed Pottery for Lead?
In recent years, historians have speculated that one of the
causes for the fall of the Roman Empire was due to its citizens
having chronic lead poisoning. Lead is a toxic metal that was used
in many applications in ancient times from makeup to medicines to
glazed pottery. Indeed, today, the glazes and clays used in some
modern pieces of pottery have traces of lead in them, which can
cause a host of problems.
Exposure to lead over a long period of time is called chronic
lead poisoning. Lead affects the body in many ways, but its most
serious consequences happen upon the nervous system. Chronic
poisoning can result in memory loss, confusion, depression, nausea,
anemia, and loss of muscular coordination. Eventually, long term
exposure to lead can cause to problems such as respiratory distress
and kidney failure, both of which can lead to death.
Because of the dangers of lead poisoning, it is important to
test your glazed potter for the presence of lead. Almost all
commercially produced pieces of pottery are lead free and fit for
using as dinnerware. However, handmade, artisanal pieces may
contain lead, which precludes them from being used for eating or
drinking. But why do potters and ceramic artist use lead in their
products in the first place? Potter is made out of clay, which is
very porous by nature. In order to seal the pores to make the
pottery water proof, a glaze must be applied to fill all of the
small holes and crevices. Not only does a glaze seal the holes, but
it also provides a beautiful finish to the piece of glazed pottery,
giving the surface a glassy look. Artists use lead in their glaze
formulas in order to make the glaze melt more easily in the kiln.
As the glaze bakes into the pottery, the lead that is in the glaze
fuses to the clay, which contaminates it. If any food or liquid
comes into contact with the surface, lead can leech into it and get
ingested by the person using the plate, bowl, or cup.
If you have any glazed pottery around your home that you use to
serve food or drinks, you need to test them for lead. You can do
this by yourself by purchasing a lead testing kit at your local
hardware store. These easy to use kits provide instant results that
are clear and easy to understand. If you do find that your piece of
glazed pottery does contain lead, do not eat off of it or drink
from it. Instead, use it as decoration to maintain your good
health.