Blog — crystal glass

An Unexpected Source of Lead-Crystal Glassware and Wine

Posted by Ben White on

 By Ted Zava, ZRT Laboratory Lead is everywhere. It was commonly used in paint, gasoline, plumbing pipes, jewelry, bullets, fishing weights, glazes, and cosmetics. Some regulations are now in place to eliminate lead’s incorporation into these products, but in many cases, it is still being used. I watched a special on wine in Washington State, and the host explained why leaded crystal glasses are ideal for tasting because of the way they refract light, how thin they are, and how the rough surface helps aerate wine. I had no clue that “crystal glassware” likely contains lead. With a bit of...

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