# 24% Lead Crystal: Dangerous?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-lead-crystal-dangerous/92586>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 10, 2001, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-lead-crystal-dangerous/92586 "2001-11-10T05:22:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![PublicBlast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/779978/32.png) [@PublicBlast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PublicBlast)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-lead-crystal-dangerous/92586/1 "2001-11-10T05:22:50Z")

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We’re still sorting wedding gifts, nearly a year after the fact, and were pondering some of our crystal. We have a beautiful crystal pitcher/decanter which, according to the box, is 24% lead crystal.

Now, [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=12924) explained exactly **what** lead crystal is, but doesn’t answer my question, which is this:

_Is the lead oxide in lead crystal potentially dangerous to people who drink out of a lead crystal container?_

A friend recently told me that he won’t drink out of his lead crystal for fear of lead poisoning, but I think he’s being an idjit. My wife the chemist thinks that lead oxide probably isn’t very water-soluble, therefore it’s safe–but she’s more of a biochemist. What’s the straight dope?

[sub]When I give wedding gifts to people, I will **never** give crystal. It’s useless to grad-student newlyweds! What’s wrong with cash, people?[/sub]

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**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-lead-crystal-dangerous/92586/2 "2001-11-10T05:29:22Z")

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Well, it is alcohol-soluable, so I wouldn’t store hooch in it. However, if you wanna make your wine look purdy, put it in there on the night you plan to serve it then transfer it afterwards.

However, I remember this from a Fine Cooking Magazine a while ago, so my memory is rusty.

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-lead-crystal-dangerous/92586/3 "2001-11-10T05:37:02Z")

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Google, “lead crystal safe”.

[http://www.nsc.org/ehc/nlic/ledepa.htm](http://www.nsc.org/ehc/nlic/ledepa.htm)

> [@](#):
>
> Don’t _store_ food or liquid in lead crystal glassware or imported or old pottery.

[http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fdalead.html](http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fdalead.html)

> [@](#):
>
> Lead crystal glassware may leach lead. “The crystalware industry has established voluntary lead-leaching limits for crystalware,” says Kashtock, “that most foreign and domestic manufacturers follow.” As a precaution, children and pregnant women should avoid frequent use of crystal glassware. Lead crystal baby bottles should never be used.

I’d say keep it for show. Decant whatever you want to serve right before serving it, then after dinner pour the leftovers back into an old mayonnaise jar or something.

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**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-lead-crystal-dangerous/92586/4 "2001-11-10T05:44:44Z")

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Really dangerous if you eat it 😃

AS others have said, as long as you don’t store stuff in it long-term, it’s pretty safe.