Harms and Humans: Heavy Metals Testing and Home Inspections

Harms and Humans: Heavy Metals Testing and Home Inspections Harms and Humans provides professional testing for heavy metals in homes, children and consumer goods, small business equipment, and soil.

This week, we visited Indigo, a large Canadian bookstore, to look at their Back-to-School items. We picked a wide range ...
08/31/2026

This week, we visited Indigo, a large Canadian bookstore, to look at their Back-to-School items. We picked a wide range of items for parents and tested them for heavy metals.

The results were better than what we used to find in a typical Canadian house!

Follow us for more and book your own home or mail-in testing service.

www.harmsandhumans.com

The testing price is as low as
🔥$6 PER ITEM

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Disclaimer:

The data values presented for lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, and antimony are reported as mean concentrations in parts per million (ppm), with ±2 standard deviations, subject to the instrument’s limits of detection. Measurements were taken on interior and/or exterior surfaces, depending on the item.

“Elevated” and “Dangerous” Heavy-Metal Content Limits

Lead (Pb): 23 ppm / 90 ppm
Mercury (Hg): 10 ppm
Cadmium (Cd): 17 ppm / 130 ppm
Arsenic (As): 25 ppm / 1,000 ppm
Antimony (Sb): 60 ppm / 1,000 ppm

These content limits are defined by Harms and Humans Inc. and informed by Canadian regulatory limits and requirements, including the Surface Coating Materials Regulations, Toys Regulations, Children’s Jewellery Regulations, and Glazed Ceramics and Glassware Regulations.


We continue our Circle of Help practice, where members of our community share selected HEAVY METALS INSPECTION results t...
08/19/2026

We continue our Circle of Help practice, where members of our community share selected HEAVY METALS INSPECTION results to help others make safer, more informed choices.

Client names are changed to protect privacy, but the objects and test results are real.

This inspection focused on frequently touched furniture, children’s items, household surfaces, and everyday objects. Among the tested items, 12% had heavy metal levels classified as Dangerous under Harms and Humans limits, while another 20% had Elevated levels.

Several findings stood out:

• Leather and synthetic-leather furniture can vary substantially in heavy metal content. Some pieces had no detectable heavy metals, while others contained lead, antimony, and arsenic. Age and appearance alone did not indicate which items contained higher concentrations.

• Some decorative ceramic cups contained very high concentrations of heavy metals, including lead, cadmium, arsenic, and antimony.

• The tested modern children’s plastic and silicone products had no detectable heavy metals.

• Lead was detected in some painted surfaces despite recent renovations, including walls and window frames.

Thank you to another member of our community who chose to share selected inspection results through the Circle of Help.

The presented results for lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, and antimony include mean values in parts per million (ppm) with ±2 standard deviations, subject to limits of detection, on interior and/or exterior surfaces.

“Elevated” and “Dangerous” Heavy Metals Content Limits:

Lead (Pb) – 23 and 90 ppm
Mercury (Hg) – 10 ppm
Cadmium (Cd) – 17 and 130 ppm
Arsenic (As) – 25 and 1000 ppm
Antimony (Sb) – 60 and 1000 ppm

Content limits are defined by Harms and Humans Inc. and are informed by Canadian Surface Coating Materials Regulations, Toys Regulations, Children’s Jewellery Regulations, Glazed Ceramics and Glassware Regulations.

Are Ikea dishes non-detectable for heavy metals?People who are medically vulnerable, pregnant, caring for young children...
08/06/2026

Are Ikea dishes non-detectable for heavy metals?

People who are medically vulnerable, pregnant, caring for young children, or who have experienced elevated heavy-metal exposure may prefer to take additional precautions when selecting food-contact products.

One practical approach is to choose dishes on which heavy metals were not detected during our x-ray fluorescence (XRF) screening.

IKEA is one of the brands we frequently recommend. While NOT ALL IKEA DISH ARE FREE FROM HEAVY METALS, the company has established chemical-safety requirements across its product range. In IKEA Global "Our View on Chemicals and How We Work with Chemicals", accessed August 2026, IKEA states that it maintains chemical requirements for all products, tests products internally and through independent laboratories, and frequently applies standards exceeding legal requirements.

Important: A dish is not necessarily safer simply because it is white, plain, or undecorated.

We regularly test IKEA dishes. Here are several items where heavy metals were not detected during our screening.

Please consider donating to support our testing initiative. Send us an e-transfer to [email protected] or follow the link for more options:

https://www.harmsandhumans.com/charity

đź”´ If you want to reduce your cadmium intake, please read.Research indicates that red ceramic decorations are more likely...
07/24/2026

đź”´ If you want to reduce your cadmium intake, please read.

Research indicates that red ceramic decorations are more likely to contain cadmium than other colours and often contain high amounts of lead.

Frequent use of dishes that release cadmium into food can increase cumulative exposure. Cadmium accumulates in the body and, over time, can damage the kidneys and weaken bones. It is also classified as a human carcinogen.

We tested ceramic plates purchased from major Canadian retailers. Some were purchased specifically for this comparison, while others were tested during our clients’ home heavy-metals inspections.

All tested plates contained high concentrations of cadmium. Selected plates also contained lead.

🍽️ We recommend white, lead- and cadmium-free dishes for everyday use. Comment PLATES to learn more.

“Elevated” and “Dangerous” Heavy-Metals Content Limits

Lead (Pb) – 23 and 90 ppm
Mercury (Hg) – 10 ppm
Cadmium (Cd) – 17 and 130 ppm
Arsenic (As) – 25 and 1,000 ppm
Antimony (Sb) – 60 and 1,000 ppm

Content limits are defined by Harms and Humans Inc. and are informed by Canadian Surface Coating Materials Regulations, Toys Regulations, Children’s Jewellery Regulations, Glazed Ceramics and Glassware Regulations, Products Containing Mercury Regulations, Consumer Products Containing Lead Regulations, and similar EU, USA, and international standards.

🔎 Would you like to know what is present in your dishes and other household products?

Book a home heavy-metals inspection or mail-in consumer-product test with Harms and Humans:

www.harmsandhumans.com

We continue our Circle of Help practice, where members of our community share selected HEAVY METALS INSPECTION results t...
06/27/2026

We continue our Circle of Help practice, where members of our community share selected HEAVY METALS INSPECTION results to help others make safer choices.

Client names are changed to protect privacy, but the objects are real.

This inspection focused on children’s frequently used areas and the dining area. Among the tested items, 27% had dangerous heavy metal levels.

This inspection supports our previous findings:

• Synthetic leather can contain lead. Be careful with peeling or worn synthetic leather, and choose furniture from transparent, trustworthy producers.

• Polyester toys and synthetic-fur bedding can contribute to repeated antimony exposure, especially when children sleep surrounded by them. For a more precautionary sleeping environment, choose fewer plush items and prioritize cotton, wool, wood, and other natural materials when possible.

Thank you to another woman who decided to share the selected inspection results.

The presented results for lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, and antimony include mean values in parts per million (ppm) with ±2 standard deviations, subject to limits of detection, on interior and/or exterior surfaces.

“Elevated” and “Dangerous” Heavy Metals Content Limits:

Lead (Pb) – 23 and 90 ppm
Mercury (Hg) – 10 ppm
Cadmium (Cd) – 17 and 130 ppm
Arsenic (As) – 25 and 1000 ppm
Antimony (Sb) – 60 and 1000 ppm

Content limits are defined by Harms and Humans Inc. and are informed by Canadian Surface Coating Materials Regulations, Toys Regulations, Children’s Jewellery Regulations, Glazed Ceramics and Glassware Regulations, Products Containing Mercury Regulations, Consumer Products Containing Lead Regulations, and similar EU, USA, and international standards.

Test your items and home to replace uncertainty with clear evidence — and join the Circle of Help.

06/10/2026

Harms and Humans will be conducting a few heavy metals home inspections in Montréal this June!

Protect you health and family from the danger of heavy metals:
* heart diseases
* cognitive and emotional problems
* developmental delays
* risks of cancer and chronic illnesses
* fertility problems.

Register while the spots are still available.

[email protected]
www.harmsandhumans.com

888 - LEADTST
613 - 818 - 5323

06/10/2026

Harms and Humans is going to Montréal for a few Home Heavy Metals Inspections. Book your inspection while the spots are still available. The offer is valid in JUNE ONLY!

Protect your health and family from the dangers of heavy metals:
* heart diseases
* cognitive and emotional problems
* developmental delays
* risks of cancer and chronic illness
* fertility problems

Call today to book:
888 - LEADTST
613 - 818 - 5323

[email protected]
www.harmsandhumans.com

06/04/2026

💧 Your drinking water may leave the treatment plant safe—but it can pick up lead on its way to your tap through aging pipes, plumbing fixtures, and service lines.

Lead exposure is associated with neurological, developmental, cardiovascular, and kidney health effects. That's why understanding your home's plumbing and using effective filtration can be important steps in reducing risk.

In our latest article, we explain where lead in drinking water comes from and review filtration technologies that can help reduce heavy metal exposure.

Read the article:
https://www.harmsandhumans.com/pages/cleanwater

Recommended filter:
https://www.pureeffectfilters.com/ =harmsandhumans

Why "Heavy" Metals cause more harms than "Light" Metals?A common misconception is that heavy metals are harmful simply b...
05/30/2026

Why "Heavy" Metals cause more harms than "Light" Metals?

A common misconception is that heavy metals are harmful simply because they are "heavy."

In reality, toxicity is driven by chemistry.

Many toxic metals can bind to proteins and interfere with the activity of enzymes that cells rely on for normal function. Some can also compete with essential minerals, disrupting biological processes that evolved to use nutrients such as calcium, zinc, and iron.

These interactions may impair the body's ability to process, transport, and eliminate contaminants, contributing to long-term retention and toxicity.

Understanding how metals interact with biological systems is critical for assessing exposure risks and protecting human health.

At Harms and Humans, we provide precise testing of homes and consumer products for heavy metals, helping households to make informed decisions and prevent health damage.

www.harmsandhumans.com

Reading kind messages like this means so much to us. ❤️Harms and Humans started from a simple fact: families in Canada c...
05/18/2026

Reading kind messages like this means so much to us. ❤️

Harms and Humans started from a simple fact: families in Canada cannot afford lab tests and they deserve to know whether there are heavy metals around them.

Thank you, Pamela Stewart for your support and encouragement. Knowing that people believe in our mission gives us even more motivation to keep helping families make informed, healthier choices.

If you think you can help us spread the word, this is the right time. Only with your support we can send the local governments signals that we care.

Address

440 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, ON
K1V0R3

Telephone

+18885323878

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