2021
In 2021, I tested 64 ceramic and porcelain tiles for lead.
They were selected from 5 major vendors in the US and were tested with a handheld x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer by a qualified professional.
The tiles were purchased from Flooring Inc, Stone Tile Depot, Build Direct, The Tile Shop, and Home Depot.
While there are no official limits on the limits of lead in tile in the US, I used a couple of benchmarks to help me make sense of the results using the limit for lead based paint and 500 ppm lead.
2024
In 2024, in collaboration with Eric Ritter, we tested 32 tiles from Daltile, Fireclay and LL Flooring with an XRF analyzer in parts per millon.
We tested their most popular tiles, including white subway tile, wood look tiles, plus all the bright colors from Fireclay.
In this case I used the limit of 200 ppm which is the EPA’s new screening level for lead in soil as a guide. 40% of the tiles tested higher than 200 ppm.
They also tested positive for metals like cobalt, chromium, titanium and more (this is totally normal, as tile glaze is made of metals).
You can see the tiles testing results here.
How Does this Compare to Previous Results?
The amount of lead used in tile glaze seems to have gone down in US ceramic floor and tile between 2002 and 2012 when the Healthy Buiding Network saw a drop of 93.6% in heavy metals (Healthy Building Network).
In 2010, the Ecology Center tested 39 ceramic tiles for sale at Home Depot and Lowes. They found that 74 percent of the tiles contained detectable lead, with levels as high as 1,900 parts per million. (However, “detectable” here could mean anything above 0 ppm). (The Ecology Center)
In my 2024 test, 87% had detectable levels of lead (14 ppm – 4,844 ppm). Based on this, it does not seem that levels have gone down since 2010, but these are just small tests, so they are not statistically accurate enough to represent the whole industry.
Why Should We Care About Lead in Tiles?
While lead in tiles is not considered a risk when the tiles are in place (unless it’s a tiled countertop, island, or table that you are putting food on), the dust produced when cutting or demolishing the tiles could easily produce a lead risk.
Just as we are concerned about chipping and flaking paint, in my opinion, we should be just as careful with a product that is installed and demolished in a way that produces a lot of dust.
Contractors are rarely careful with this dust. It is reasonable to choose to take lead remediation level precautions with all tile dust.
Brands of Tiles That Claim to Not Use Lead in the Glaze
Daltile has an explicit policy on lead in which they claim only their red colors contain lead. They are made in the USA. They do have some tiles that contain Microban; Microban in this instance likely refers to nanosilver.
Fireclay tiles are handmade in California. They say all of their 150 glazes are 100% lead-free, on their website and on their Health Product Declaration (down to 100 ppm, self prepared, not third party verified). They say that in 1988, Fireclay Tile was the first tile company to introduce 100% lead-free glazes into their product line.
Crossville tiles are also made in America. They provide a lot of transparency regarding ingredient disclosure. They provide an Environmental Declaration (EPD), Declare Label down to 100 ppm and say they are red list free, and lead is on the red list (and lead is not listed as an ingredient down to 100 ppm), and a Health Product Declaration (HPD) for all colors down to 100 ppm with residuals considered. Lead is not listed.
Porcelanosa is a Spanish company that has international dealers. They state that “the tile glazes do not contain any heavy metals like lead or cadmium. This means that their vitreous surface is totally inert. Porcelanosa tiles have heavy metal emission values far below the established limit for food-grade ceramic tiles.”
Clayhaus Tile, a company based out of Oregon state, hand makes their tiles in the US. They state that Clayhaus ceramic tiles use lead-free glazes.
See my 2024 results from lead testing in tile.
Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.
Alisha M
Hi,
I looked through the 2024 tile testing results in Substack. Can you expand on what that means for Daltile? Is the lead being detected probably from the naturally occurring lead in the tile or do we believe they are actually using glaze with lead in it?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
The article goes over what is considered background levels to measure against since those could naturally be in the clay
Tastie
Hi,
Any idea if Ivy Hill tiles contain lead? I found a Q&A on the Home Depot site for one of their tiles, and they claimed they are lead free, but their website does not provide any info at all about lead or any other material specs.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I tested two from that brand, they are in substack
tastie
I just looked there. Not sure how to find what you’re referring to.
Joe
Hey Corinne, I got Porcelain kitchen floor tiles from Artistic Tiles about 8 years ago, and I am unsure if they have lead in the glaze or not, although it is more likely than not with how prevalent lead is in ceramic glaze. There are a couple of small holes and cracks in the floor tiles and have been for many years, would that be continuously exposing me to lead/lead dust? Thank you so much.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
if the holes and cracks are producing dust then potentially
Joe
Would the dust be visible?
Chandni
Hi Corinne I have just bought wood effect tiles for my new home from a company called porcelain tiles in the UK. They said none of their tiles are glazed (and therefore don’t contain heavy metals) and are greenguard gold certified. If it is not glazed do I still need to be worried about lead? Many thanks for all your hard work!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
GGG is unrelated. metals are mainly a concern in the glaze. the clay (baking) can have low levels, like any clay and a lot of soil.
Chandni
Thanks for getting back to me. I was originally deciding between tiles and LVT, but wasn’t sure about the plastic in LvT and long term effects. In your opinion which is a safer option with young children?
Once the tiles are in place and if we have underfloor heating do I need to worry about any heavy metals leaching or any offgassing? Thank you
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
no leaching or offgassing from ceramic tile once in place on the floor
Laura
Hello. Has anyone tested, or have knowledge about, Bedrosian Tiles? Thanks!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
i dont know that company but I’m right now in the middle of testing tiles from daltile, fireclay and Ll flooring results will come in the Substack soon https://corinnesegura.substack.com/subscribe
susan
Hi Corinne,
is brand MSI porcelain is LEAD free tile?
did you test this one before?
thank you
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I would not use MSI
Ashley
Hi Corinne,
Could you please share more on why you would not use MSI brand tile? We are very intereted in the CABANA HONEY 9X47 tile for our home.
Adam lieberman
Are there brands from Lowe’s and Home Depot which are lead free or very close to lead free? Thanks
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
yes the brand list and the full testing result ebook have brands from home depot
DKI
Hi Corinne, is this ebook available on your site? I didnt see it under the ebooklets section and am wondering if I missed it somewhere on your site. Thanks!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
see the banner in this post
Gina
I have not seen the banner, can you please share here? Were shopping to buy porcelain or ceramic tiles, we found mold in pur home and some is under the wooden floors in kitchen. Thank you
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
it’s in the article in text and in a photo banner
Cristie Miele
Thank you so much for this site.I just built a log home and am slowly finishing the inside. How do Brazilian natural slate tiles rate for toxicity? I love the look of them…….
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
protect from silica dust when cutting slate
Dev
how would i know if wood like tile from floor and decor have lead? would you go for wood like tile or lvp (company lions king .5 voc)
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
you would have to test it with an XRF anaylser to know for sure. yes i would prefer wood look tile over LVP if you mean which one is healthier
Hailee
Hello! Is lead in tiles a concern if we are not installing/cutting them? They will just put installed into our new house by a professional. Do I have to worry about the lead in the tiles once they are installed? (When walking barefoot, or will it off gas into the air?)
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
Not to worry once they are installed unless it’s on a countertop where you are directly placing foods, esp wet acidic foods. However you could still be affected by the dust if they don’t clean it up well before you get there or if they let the dust go through central HVAC ducts so make sure the ducts are closed off, HVAC system is off and dust is well cleaned up. If the tiles definitely have lead you will have to look into dust clean up procedures for lead.
Tiles
Hello,
Thanks for this info!
If someone is interested in buying/renting a house that has had major bathroom renovations, where tiles were removed, is it important to do lead dust testing and where would you do this in the house? Also, do natural stone tiles contain lead?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
yes lead, arsenic, cadmium and asbestos in some natural stones. I cannot comment directly on lead remediation.
elizabeth
We are looking at a terracotta tile for floors- do you know if terracotta tiles contain lead? Any recommendations on cutting/handling to limit lead exposure if we are unable to get something without lead? I’ve looked into some of the companies listed and either they dont have the style we are looking for or they cost up to 3/4x the price of other tiles.
also thank you for all this information. we are doing a renovation and I’ve read a few of your posts and made some product adjustments already.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
if they come glazed its possible for the glaze to contain lead, the clay itself also can contain very low amounts of lead, like soil. see post on testing products for lead for some guidance on cutting etc
KCAZ
I have MCS and have been working off and on for months on a tub to shower conversion & new vanity & integrated(I hope) sink, lead free fixtures. I have come across Lapitec from Italy especially the most recent that they say has 1% or less of silica if processed with Borite. I wonder if you are familiar with that product and if you or any of your readers have feedback either way on it? There is a newer “veined” line of the product which looks to me (at least online) like a porcelain which is what I would like for my shower. Thank you in advance.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
i like sintered stone, i talk about it in the countertop post.
Sabrina
In 2020, I had tiles from Mission Tile West Revival Line XRF tested and they came back at ND for all of the colors which I had tested. I believe they told me a couple of years earlier that only their red glaze had lead or cadmium in it, I can’t remember which.
These are the colors which I had tested:
Frankie Blue
Blue Wash
Lemon Ice
Cobalt Blue
Classic White
I also had DalTile Color Wheel 3×6″ subway tile in “White 0100” tested, and it also came back negative (ND) for lead.
Sabrina
Oh, one more thing. ONLY the DalTile tiles manufactured in the USA are guaranteed to not be formulated with lead. Sometimes different shaped tiles in the same line will be manufactured in different places. Each tile has a spec sheet that you can refer to, on their website, that indicates where each piece is manufactured. Make sure you get that info before buying.
Corinne
They say “Careful attention is given to raw elements at all our manufacturing plants to guarantee our products have no VOCs, no PVCs, no lead”
and
“Daltile does not intentionally add lead in any form as an ingredient to either the body materials or the glazes of our manufactured products, with only one exception. The single exception is related to a specialty color of red glaze. This color is used almost exclusively as accents in some wall and mosaic tile installation projects. Our efforts to eliminate the lead additive have been thus far resisted by our customers, because of the inability to duplicate the exact shade of red without using lead.”
Lucille Joan Myers
Hello,
I am trying to decide on whether to use tile for our new bathroom( after 45 yrs of marriage!) or an Onyx shower base, which our tile installer suggests. I see that the Onyx shower base is made of :
63% Alumina Trihydrate ATH, and 37% Polyester resin.
I am not finding information on the toxicity of these products together in this tile . We are on a pinch for time to make this decision and I am worried that the Onyx might off-gas.
Any thoughts on this anyone?
Many Thanks,
Luce
Corinne Segura
There is a very low amount of offgassing from solid surface material which is the material you are describing but it will fully offgas. Maybe a few weeks or months and only likely noticeable to those who are chemically sensitive.
Luce Myers
Thank you so much!! I find your website so very helpful and gives me much peace in the choices we are making.