Hazardous lead release from glazed dinnerware: a cautionary note.

Numerous pieces of contemporary glazed pottery dinnerware made in Italy and Mexico have been shown to release excessive amounts of lead, greater than 1000 ppm in several instances. Extended use with frequent scouring increased the lead release. This pottery, manufactured under obsolete conditions, may be imported into the United States by tourists, retail merchants and immigrants, and used for daily cooking and storage of food and beverages. Our findings demonstrate a potentially widespread health hazard both in the countries of origin of the pottery and the countries of importation.