Overview

• Independent lab tests commissioned by Lead Safe Mama found lead in 90% of 51 toothpaste brands, with arsenic, mercury, and cadmium also detected in many products.
• Several brands exceeded Washington State's 1,000 ppb lead limit for cosmetics, though all were below the FDA's 10,000 ppb threshold for toothpaste.
• Children under six are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure, which can cause severe developmental and health issues, according to health experts.
• Five toothpaste brands, including Dr. Brown's Baby Toothpaste and Orajel Training Toothpaste, tested free of lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium, offering safer alternatives.
• Contamination may stem from common ingredients like calcium carbonate, hydroxyapatite, and bentonite clay, often used for cleaning or whitening.