Heavy metals
Metals such as antimony, nickel and chromium migrating from a material into what touches it. They accumulate rather than clearing, so a small dose repeated daily matters more than a single large one. Recycled and low-cost materials carry the widest variation.
Definition and health context from ATSDR.
We checked 11,795 products and found heavy metals reported or likely in 21 of them.
Where heavy metals turns up
Categories we grade, worst first, as a share of what we scored in each.
| Category | Flagged | Scored | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetics | 7 | 8 | 88% |
| Guitar Strings | 11 | 16 | 69% |
| Clothing | 6 | 9 | 67% |
| Scrubs | 5 | 8 | 63% |
| School Uniforms | 48 | 78 | 62% |
| Stain-Resistant Suits | 9 | 15 | 60% |
| Stainless Steel Cookware | 8 | 15 | 53% |
| Wrinkle-Free Professional Workwear | 8 | 15 | 53% |
| Stain-Resistant Bed Sheets | 8 | 15 | 53% |
| Quick-Dry Shorts | 8 | 15 | 53% |
| Sports Performance Undergarments | 41 | 85 | 48% |
| Waterproof Boots | 49 | 105 | 47% |
| Running Shoes | 38 | 83 | 46% |
| Activewear | 38 | 86 | 44% |
Where we found real evidence
Reported or likely, lowest scoring first. Not plausibility.
Nonstick coatings on steel baking sheets degrade with age, dishwasher use, and abrasion, potentially releasing particles and allowing steel corrosion. Properly maintained below 400°F, this risk is low; neglected sheets pose greater exposure over time.
Ceramic nonstick coatings are inherently less durable than PTFE and chip or flake with use. Once compromised, the underlying aluminum or steel base may leach into food, particularly with acidic foods. Bialetti does not specify the base metal or publish durabil
Non-stick coatings on cookware degrade with age and mechanical wear; once the non-stick layer is compromised, the underlying stainless steel is exposed. Stainless steel itself is not a material linked to PFAS, and does not leach nickel or chromium under normal
No data on coating durability or adhesion; aluminum substrate beneath non-stick layer will leach if coating flakes or wears, especially with acidic foods or metal-utensil use over time.
All nonstick coatings degrade with use and aggressive cleaning. As the coating chips or wears, underlying aluminum or metal may contact food. No durability data from the brand suggests unclear quality control and higher-than-average breakdown risk.
Chrome tanning is the industry standard for leather boots and is present in nearly all commercial leather footwear. Trivalent chromium (Cr III) is considered less hazardous than hexavalent chromium (Cr VI), which is regulated. Skin contact during wear presents
Chrome-tanned leather is industry standard and does not inherently pose hazard if tanning waste is properly managed. Chromium(III) used in tanning is considered lower risk than Chromium(VI). However, Hanwag does not certify tannery practices or test finished b
Crumb rubber infill can contain cadmium, lead, and other heavy metals from tire manufacturing and additives. FieldTurf does not publicly specify infill metal content; if sand infill is used instead, this hazard is largely avoided, so confirmation of infill typ
The 80/20 bronze wrap contains nickel, which can release trace amounts through skin contact during play. Individuals with nickel allergies or dermatitis may experience reactions with prolonged exposure; this is a known issue with metal string instruments gener
Pigments in foundations have been found in trace amounts to contain lead, cadmium, or arsenic in various brands' testing. L'Oréal sources have not published specific heavy metal testing results for this product line; risk remains within industry baseline but u
Antimony is used as a catalyst in polyester synthesis and remains in the finished fiber at trace levels (typically <100 ppm). This is well-documented and considered acceptable for apparel contact; dermal uptake is negligible under normal wear. No action requir
Rice and rice-derived products can accumulate arsenic and cadmium from soil and water. Third-party testing is not universally performed on wholesale oils. Verify source region and any available lab reports; organic certification provides no guaranteed reductio
What to buy instead
Highest scoring products with no flag for it, in the categories where it is worst.
- D'Addario Acoustic Guitar Strings XS 80/20 Bronze Coated85
- Levi's 501 Jeans80Check price
- RMS Beauty Organic Makeup75
- Uniform Advantage UA Women's Butter-Soft STRETCH Scrub Set65
- Uniform Advantage Butter Soft Blue Stretch Women's Scrub Top65
- Uniform Advantage UA Women's Butter-Soft STRETCH 6-Pocket Scrub Pants65
Answers about heavy metals, with every source linked
- Is There Lead in Protein Powder?
- Is There Lead in Chocolate?
- Is There Arsenic in Rice?
- How Much Mercury Is in Tuna?
- Is There Lead in Cinnamon?
- Is Stainless Steel Cookware Safe?
- Is Cast Iron Cookware Safe?
- Is Aluminum Foil Toxic?
- Is Enameled Cast Iron Safe?
- Is Copper Cookware Safe?
- Is There Lead in Your Tap Water?
- Is Aluminum Cookware Safe?
- Does Lead Crystal Leach Lead Into Drinks?
- Do Heavy Metal Detox Products Work?
- Can Tampons Cause Toxic Shock Syndrome?
- What Is Cadmium, and How Are You Exposed to It?
- What Are the Symptoms of Arsenic Poisoning?
- What Is Hexavalent Chromium?
- How Do You Know If Your House Has Lead Paint?
- What Is Lead Poisoning, and How Do Adults Get It?
- What Are the Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning?
- Is There Arsenic in Well Water?
The other chemicals we screen for
Every product here is checked against all of these, so a product that clears heavy metals may still be flagged for one of them.
Common questions
What is heavy metals?
Metals such as antimony, nickel and chromium migrating from a material into what touches it. They accumulate rather than clearing, so a small dose repeated daily matters more than a single large one. Recycled and low-cost materials carry the widest variation.
Which products contain heavy metals?
Of the 11,795 products we have graded, 1,414 are flagged for it and 21 on reported or likely evidence rather than plausibility. Cosmetics is the worst category at 88% of what we scored there.
Is heavy metals in cosmetics?
More than in anything else we grade. 7 of the 8 cosmetics we scored carry a flag for it, which is 88%. The full breakdown per product is on each product page.
What can I buy instead?
In the categories where it turns up most, the highest scoring products with no flag for it are D'Addario Acoustic Guitar Strings XS 80/20 Bronze Coated at 85, Levi's 501 Jeans at 80, RMS Beauty Organic Makeup at 75. Every one of those was graded on the same rubric as the products above.
How do you know?
We do not lab test. Every grade here is built from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, brand disclosures, recalls and third party lab results where those already exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so, and where a brand publishes nothing we score the silence rather than guessing.
12% of everything we grade carries a flag for heavy metals. See every hazard we track or browse the full products list.