There are a few benefits to using vintage glassware: Not only is it more durable than the mass-produced products made today, but the elegant and fun designs make the glasses a pleasure to look at and drink out of. 

However, sipping from an older glass comes with a warning that’s not to be taken lightly. Certain materials that were once commonly used to make glassware are now known to be harmful toxins that shouldn’t be ingested. Here’s how to determine if your old glassware is safe to drink from, or if it’s better suited for decorative purposes.

A Slew of Toxic Ingredients

Before 1978, there were no federal regulations prohibiting the use of lead paint in consumer products. This is why you hear about so many old houses having lead-related issues, but the concerns also extend to vintage glassware. Many of the intricate designs and fun characters painted onto old glasses were drawn with paint that contains lead as well as cadmium — another harmful chemical once used to achieve colorful pigments. Not only that, but both lead and cadmium were used in the manufacture of glass itself.

Lead-poisoning prevention advocate Tamara Rubin told The Guardian that “vintage barware can have enough contaminants to cause biological harm to humans.” Collectible glasses given out by fast-food restaurants in the 1970s and 1980s (and, in one instance, the 2010s) have also been found to contain lead and cadmium. If the toxic paint comes into contact with any acidic liquids such as fruit juices or wines, those acids can draw out the toxins and contaminate whatever’s being consumed.

Paint is one thing, but according to experts, there’s little to worry about if you accidentally drank from a lead crystal glass once. As toxicology expert Dr. Michael Kosnett explained to America’s Test Kitchen, “that’s not going to give a significant amount of lead.” Experts speaking with Consumer Reports noted that drinking from lead glassware occasionally is OK for adults other than pregnant women. You don’t necessarily have to throw it away, but you shouldn’t be using it daily or for extended periods of time.

And don’t leave liquids sitting in glass containers that may contain lead, such as vintage decanters, for too long. Storing some scotch that way may look nice, but doing so raises the risk that lead will leach out into the liquid. Once consumed, lead and cadmium can accumulate in the body, leading to issues such as higher blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, and kidney damage, among other major ailments. So, if you must use that heirloom decanter, pour the liquor back into the bottle as soon as you’re done with it.

What To Watch For

There’s no way to confirm that a glass contains toxins just by looking at it, so if you have vintage glassware, you may want to  err on the side of caution and use it only decoratively. There are some red flags to look for that can indicate a glass isn’t safe, however.

Be wary of old glassware that’s orange, yellow, or red, as cadmium was often used to achieve those pigments. Additionally, painted decorations that feel rough or raised may contain lead. You should also check items for wear, as scratches can easily cause the shedding of toxic microparticles.

According to America’s Test Kitchen, there are some simple tests that will tell you if lead was used in the manufacturing of your vintage glassware. If you shine white light through the glass and see a rainbow, that’s a sign of lead. Likewise, if tapping the glass with a metal utensil produces a high-pitched ringing, then the glass likely contains lead. But if it produces a low-pitched clunk instead, it’s probably safe to use.

Last but not least, if the glass has a green or yellowish color, it may contain radioactive uranium. You can tell by shining a black light on the glass — if it glows a bright green, then it contains uranium. (Be aware, though, that not all glass that contains uranium will glow under a black light.) 

If you have any uranium glass on hand, it’s probably not going to cause harm if you just touch it. But people are advised to play it safe and avoid using uranium glasses as practical drinkware.

Get the Lead Out

There are ways to test for lead in your vintage glassware that go beyond making an educated guess by looking at it (or tapping on it). 

Home testing kits using swabs are readily available and provide results in as little as 30 seconds, though they’re not as reliable as tests done in a controlled lab environment and may return false positives. 

Lumetallix, another home testing option, can reportedly detect an amount of lead as small as a nanogram. All you have to do is spray the colorless solution onto the glass, shine a light on it, and look for a green glow. The test does have limitations: It doesn’t work on food, soil, or water, and Lumetallix cautions that it can show only whether or not lead is present; if the lead is inaccessible due to a sealant, for example, the test will not be positive, so it’s “not meant to replace X-ray fluorescence,” which looks beyond the surface of an object and can tell you exactly how much lead is in a particular item.

Lumetallix is considered easier to use than swab tests. But according to Consumer Reports — which tested 11 at-home lead-detecting kits — no matter what home test you buy, it’s likely that it will be good at detecting high levels of lead, but not lower levels or any lead that may be lurking under the surface. So, if you’re particularly worried about lead exposure — or children are regularly in your home — you may just want to get rid of the items you feel may be risky.

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It’s no shocker that people are prone to accidental tumbles, especially as they grow older and lose their balance more easily. But not all unexpected falls are due to aging — there are a slew of other culprits, some more surprising than others. 

Since 2000, studies have indicated an uptick in the frequency of fatal falls across an array of age groups both young and old. Here’s a closer look at some reasons behind this concerningly growing trend.

Falling Upward

According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compiled by the data analysis site USAFacts, the rate of death caused by accidental falls has jumped from 4.7 people per 100,000 in 2000 to 11.4 (when adjusted for age) as of 2023 — more than a 2.4-fold increase. The rise comes despite continued efforts to educate Americans about risks associated with falling, such as the debut of Falls Prevention Awareness Week in 2007 and the launch of the STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, & Injuries) initiative in 2012. 

But this doesn’t affect just seniors (although they are significantly more at risk). The death rate from accidental falls has increased for people aged 35 and up as well. Here’s how the data breaks down: 

• Ages 35 and 44: 15.4% increase 
• Ages 45 to 54: 34.8% increase 
• Ages 55 to 64: 94.9% increase 
• Ages 65 to 74: 113.3% increase 
• Ages 75 to 84: 140.2% increase
• Ages 85 and up: 201.5% increase

The only age demographics to see a drop are the 25 to 34 (-12.5%), 15 to 24 (-50%), and 1 to 14 (-39.1%) groups.

While fatal falls have increased in frequency, the rate of other major causes of death has gone down. Since the year 2000, cancer deaths have dropped 6.8%, vehicle deaths are down 13%, and heart disease-related deaths have plummeted 19.5%.

3 Things That Could Be Causing the Increase in Accidental Falls

Putting age aside, one of the big reasons for the uptick in severe falls may be increased use of prescription medication, which can make people woozy and less stable. This includes meds such as antidepressants and psychotherapeutics, both of which are prescribed and used more frequently than a quarter-century ago. One survey found that the percentage of Americans 65 and older using psychotherapeutics went from 9.4% between January 1999 and March 2000 to 21% between January 2017 and March 2020, while antidepressant use rose from 8.4% to 20%. 

In a similar vein, increased alcohol consumption may also be a driving force behind accidental falls: Between 2002 and 2019, the percentage of Americans 65 and older who consumed alcohol monthly increased 16%, according to data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health.

Another problem area worth noting is America’s high rate of obesity, which, at 41.64%, is one of the highest in the world. Obesity has an adverse impact on people’s posture and balance, and is believed to be a major reason why Americans fall and suffer injury so often.

Additional Theories 

There are two other potential causes noted by USAFacts, the first of which is a change in the way that falls are reported. Back in the day, you may have reported a fall only if it was from a high distance, such as off a ladder while doing roof repairs. But there’s an argument to be made that more people are reporting falls from “on the same level” — i.e., if you were to fall while standing on the ground. While those falls may seem minor, they can lead to serious injury that becomes more apparent days or weeks later.

One final theory is that an increase in fall deaths is related to a decrease in other causes of death. With fewer people dying from cancer, heart disease, or car accidents, it opens the door for potentially fatal events such as falling.

Safety Tips

Despite this concerning uptick, there are precautions you can take to prevent major falls at home. 

One way to do so is to eliminate areas that may potentially trip you up. Moving to a home with fewer stairs, for instance, eliminates changes in elevation that might be a bit more difficult to navigate with age. You can also install railings for more stability, put no-slip pads underneath any rugs, and use bright lighting so you don’t trip over a hazard that you can’t see. And it’s a good idea to wear house shoes with traction for added support.

You can further lower the risk of falling by living a healthy lifestyle. Take care of your vision so you don’t accidentally bump into things and tumble over. Maintain a manageable weight to avoid putting extra strain on your joints. Steer clear of drugs and alcohol, and consult your doctor to see if they’re able to prescribe medications that won’t make you woozy. All of these lifestyle choices can go a long way toward keeping you on your feet and off the ground.

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