Are lead minis dangerous?

[thalmin]

That matches my memory as well. I vaguely remember something about a suit or statute from New York being the catalyst. Ral Partha renamed their pewter something ridiculous that escapes me just now.

It was one of many. During the height of the lead scare, various states (and cities) were coming up with statutes or laws to ban lead miniatures. Ral Partha and other minis companies fought, and won, every challenge. However the industry couldn't afford to keep fighting, the court costs and legal fees were too high. Thus the change by most U.S. companies to the more expensive "Ralidium" or whatever they chose to call their "pewter" figures.
Intestingly enough, the states did not try banning leaded crystal glasses or decanters. (By the way, real pewter usually contains a fair amount of lead. The "pewter" used in todays minis is lead free. Eating with pewter plates or utensils, or drinking from leaded crystal glasses or decanters, actually IS dangerous. Any foods or drink that are even slightly acidic, like tomatoes or wine, leach some lead into your food.)

 

[diaglo]

This is nonsense of course - your old lead minis are very dangerous!

The best thing to do is ship them to me so I can take care of the problem for you.

thinking only of your health...

that was my line....go back to my original post in this thread.

 

[diaglo]

Wasn't it closer to '93? The big move to "pewter" was at just about the same time that Magic hit.

Oops... i thought i did type 93.

 

[diaglo]

Again the amount of lead salts that would be produced and absorbed in the routine handling/painting and sanding of lead based miniatures would be insignificant. Enjoy your minis, paint away.

Grant Kinsley MD

sawbones is right in truth. but the whole worst case scenario always makes people err on the side of caution when giving advice on subject's like this one.

you will note on the CDC link i posted about the dangers of lead poisoning it does mention Hobbyists.

 

[Uller]

Lead minis aren't a danger to gamers. The real threat is products that are produced using dihydrogen monoxide. I hear Mt. Dew contains extremely high levels of the stuff...

http://www.dhmo.org/



The city of Aliso Viejo, Calif is on the cutting edge of this fight. They attempted to ban this deadly substance, but unfortunately the bill was killed by industry insiders...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4534017/

 

[Uller]

sawbones is right in truth. but the whole worst case scenario always makes people err on the side of caution when giving advice on subject's like this one.

you will note on the CDC link i posted about the dangers of lead poisoning it does mention Hobbyists.

Maybe. But when this advice is leading people to toss collections of beloved minis and/or handling them like they're made with plutonium then...well...we're not supposed to get political here. All I'll say is there is probably a significantly greater chance of kids being harmed by your exacto knife, your dremel tool or accidently ingesting the paints you use than of being harmed directly by your lead figures (unless they choke on them...they're certainly small enough to be a serious choking hazzard).

On the record, I don't let my kids play with my old lead minis just to be on the safe side (then again, I don't let them play with my paints or my x-acto knife either). I like the new metals and the plastic minis better. Lead is so soft and doesn't hold the details very well. These newer materials are much better anyway. Most of my old minis have been turned into bullets. Only the really nicely painted ones have survived.

Edit: And those of you using a dremel on your minis...you had better be wearing safety glasses! Getting a shard of metal in your eye is no joke and you are at a much greater risk of that than inhaling toxic levels of lead dust...

 

[buzz]

Thanks for all of the good advice and info, folks. I guess I can leave behind the toxicity issue and focus simply on whether someone else might get more fun out of them than I will.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

Lead minis aren't a danger to gamers. The real threat is products that are produced using dihydrogen monoxide. I hear Mt. Dew contains extremely high levels of the stuff...

http://www.dhmo.org/



The city of Aliso Viejo, Calif is on the cutting edge of this fight. They attempted to ban this deadly substance, but unfortunately the bill was killed by industry insiders...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4534017/

Absolutely right. That is why I have cut out any product that contains dihydrogen monoxide from my life. I figure in a few days of abstaining I can get enough dihydrogen monoxide out of my system that I will be healthy.

 

[Henry]

The city of Aliso Viejo, Calif is on the cutting edge of this fight. They attempted to ban this deadly substance, but unfortunately the bill was killed by industry insiders...

You know how some people have really fun jobs? I SO would have wanted to be the guy who broke the news to the council...

 

[Hjorimir]

You know, once they have been properly primered, they are effectively painted. So if you're worried that much about it and haven't had the time to paint them yet, just coat them in primer and you’re good to go.