The variation in results when testing a metal substrate (even if it is already known to be high lead) is because the swab testing methodology (including reactive agent tests for Lead) are specifically designed for testing paints and other surface coatings - not metal substrates. However, sometimes with galvanized metal the swab will turn bright pink. If metals (any metal objects) do test positive with a reactive agent test, the positive is often much more faint (faint pink or red), than when you might test paint that is positive for Lead at the same level. When you test something like this (anything with a metal substrate actually, and specifically anything made of galvanized metal) it may or may not test positive with a reactive agent test (like a LeadCheck® swab). regulation, as it stands – illegal at all. As evidenced by the fact that it is so very common to see high levels of Lead (and trace levels of Cadmium and Mercury) in these products – the presence of toxic heavy metals in chicken wire is not – under current U.S. If this chicken wire (pictured here in this post) were considered to be “an item intended for use by children “ it would certainly be illegal today, but it is not – even though children often participate in gardening.
The amount of Lead that is considered toxic (by current Federal regulatory standards) in an item intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint or coating, and anything 100 ppm Lead or higher in the substrate. I have never once tested a sample of galvanized chicken wire (or other galvanized hardware cloth / wire cloth) that was negative for Lead! As a result I stopped using any galvanized chicken wire (or any other galvanized products – including animal feed buckets and animal feed dispensers) for any and all applications around my home and garden. Since that original posting, I have dozens of additional samples of this type of wire. Here are the XRF readings I got for the sample pictured on this post:Īs mentioned above, this information was originally shared with my readers in June of 2014.
#Chicken wire fence around garden full#
One of those two examples is pictured here on this post (image above). Photographs and readings for the second sample can be seen here: link. With both samples, I have the same considerations: the wire (even after trying to scrunch it into a lump as tightly as I could) did not fill up the full sampling window/screen of the XRF - as a result the actual content (in ppm) is likely much, much higher for the toxic heavy metals found to be present in each case. You can read more about the testing I do on this link. As with each item with the test results reported here on this blog, testing was done using a high-precision XRF instrument. When I first tested this type of product (back in 2014), I originally tested TWO examples - one each of 2 different types of galvanized wire cloth that my friend sent me. poultry cloth / chicken wire deer fencing non-climbing horse fencing, etc.) - depending on specifications, as well as common uses / markets. This product is also called wire cloth, wire mesh, woven wire, wire fence or wire fencing, etc., - or associated with the name of an animal (e.g. Chicken wire is a popular example of a category of galvanized wire products – available in a variety of forms, styles, and gauges, sold in rolls or flat panels, traditionally used primarily in animal control and husbandry, and now sold in most hardware stores – and used for a wide variety of purposes. Years ago, in response to a friend’s concerns about chicken wire (otherwise known as poultry cloth or hardware cloth) I tested several examples. Updated: MaCan chicken wire test positive for Lead?
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