Re: how much lead when drinking from crystal

From: David Moore (David_at_glass.demon.co.uk)
Date: 10/20/04 

Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 09:05:05 +0100

In message <4176130B.82095173@iw.net>, Archimedes Plutonium
<a_plutonium@iw.net> writes
>The reason crystal is called crystal is because it has lead crystal
>mixed with silicon.
>
>I am not quite sure as to why or how the lead becomes transparent.
>Anyone know the physics behind why lead, a metal can become
>transparent? And can all metals become transparent when mixed with
>silicon?
>
>But the question on my mind is the health question of how many atoms of
>lead does one ingest when drinking from a crystal glass containing
>lead. I suppose most people would say zero number of lead atoms gets
>into the body. I however am skeptical of that claim and would hazard to
>guess that a few atoms of lead are taken into the body whenever a
>person drinks wine from a crystal glass.
>
Its glass, crystal is just a cultural echo and a way of putting up the
price.

Glass can contain all sorts of metal oxides and still be transparent.

How much lead is a safe dose? It tends to hang around in bones anyway
but the quantities from a glass of wine are pretty low and the effects
of the alcohol probably outweigh this.

What is the most damaging rate to drink wine from a high lead wine
glass? Drink too fast and not much lead dissolves, too slow and your
main course will be cold and the waiter will be looking at the clock and
giving big hints to leave.

Drinking from not very well fired coffee cups with a glaze containing
lead on the other hand might have been a problem in the past. 

-- 
David Moore
Society of Glass Technology
http://www.sgt.org

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