Overview
- EU rules have barred the sale of lead Bleigießen sets since April 2018 under chemicals regulation across member states, with Switzerland not automatically covered.
- Consumer tests cited in coverage found pre‑ban figures contained over 70% lead, and experts warn of toxic fumes, skin exposure risks, and heightened vulnerability for children.
- Recent guides promote wax and tin casting as practical replacements, with step‑by‑step instructions for melting material on a spoon and pouring into cold water.
- Physicist Nicolas Wöhrl, via Deutschlandfunk Nova, suggests adding a drop of dish soap to the water during wax casting to reduce surface tension for more three‑dimensional shapes.
- Articles differ on the precise legal threshold for lead in products, with reported limits of 0.05% or 0.3%, and all stress caution to avoid burns from hot wax or tin.