Alarming Levels of Lead Found in Glasses

In lab tests commissioned by the AP, alarming levels of lead and cadmium were found on the surface of drinking glasses made in China. These glasses—bearing images of comic book icons and characters from movies like the Wizard of Oz—were made for brands like Coca-Cola, Walt Disney, Burger King, and McDonald's. The amount of lead in the enamel used to color the Tin Man, for example, was 1,006 times the legal limit for children's products, while Batman and Dorothy glasses were at least 770 times too high.

They also contained high levels of the more dangerous cadmium. Though these toxic metals are found on the outside of the glasses, the concern is that the materials could shed onto the hands of children and then transfer to their mouths. Coca-Cola argued that the glasses were designed for adult collectors, not children, and said previous testing showed the glasses "complied with all relevant regulations." Read the full article. (More lead stories.)