Stanley Cups: Potential Lead Exposure?

Stanley cups are a brand of reusable tumblers that have been exploding in popularity online. Many TikTok users like to post their collections and people are willing to line up and wait for limited edition ones in various stores, like at Target. Stanleys have become more of an accessory than an environmentally friendly alternative to water bottles. There are consumers who have multiple Stanley cups solely because they want to own them and "fit in". 

Figure 1: Stanley cups in various colors.

With this popularity, some videos emerged of people testing their Stanleys for lead with at-home kits. There were various posts made on all social media platforms, including Youtube, TikTok, Reddit, and more of people with positive test results from their cups. This caused lots of concern from Stanley owners, with some wondering if they needed to stop using their cups all together. The company did confirm that lead is in their products, claiming that there is an "industry standard pellet to seal the vacuum insulation at the base of [our] products", but insist that the lead is not accessible to consumers.

Figure 2: TikToker testing their Stanley cup for lead. Reddish orange indicates a positive test. 

The inclusion of lead in products has been a concern for many years. According to the CDC, lead exposure in children could lead to:

• Damage to the brain and nervous system
• Slowed growth and development
• Learning and behavior problems
• Hearing and speech problems

Which in turn, causes:

• Lower IQ
• Decreased ability to pay attention
• Underperformance in school

Because of the negative effects that lead may cause to all humans, Stanley users are rightfully concerned about the potential of being exposed. However, health experts are backing Stanley and saying that consumers do not need to worry about the lead. In an article posted by The New York Times, NYU public health professor Jack Caravanos tested different Stanley cups with an x-ray fluorescence detector and did not find any lead on the surface of the cups, which is where exposure would be. When asked about testing the area where the company claims the lead is, which is under the stainless steel, Dr. Caravanos said he was not able to take apart the cup to test. This would mean that it would be very difficult for the lead to get exposed to the consumer. He also claims that at-home lead tests "are not considered reliable" and that those kinds of tests are not approved by the EPA.

Despite there not being a risk of lead exposure, Dr. Caravanos still believes that the company should not have included lead in its products in the first place, because of how well known its toxicity is.  Stanley also claims they are trying to improve their design by looking for alternative materials.  

References

1. Bjella, Braden. “‘It’s Trash Now’: Woman Says Viral Stanley Water Bottle Allegedly Tested Positive for Lead.” The Daily Dot, 12 Aug. 2023, www.dailydot.com/news/stanley-cup-water-bottle-testing-positive-lead/.

2. CDC. “Health Effects of Lead Exposure.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2 Sept. 2022, www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/prevention/health-effects.htm.

3. Deb, Sopan. “A Lead Scare Strikes Stanley Tumblers, but You Don’t Need to Worry.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 30 Jan. 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/01/30/health/stanley-cups-lead.html.

4. “Do Stanley Products Contain Lead?” Stanley 1913, support.stanley1913.com/en/support/solutions/articles/69000850923-do-stanley-products-contain-lead-. Accessed 14 Feb. 2024.

5. Giordano, Medea. “Is There Lead in Your Reusable Water Bottle?” Wired, Conde Nast, 13 Feb. 2024, www.wired.com/story/stanley-cup-lead-soldering/.

6. II, Moises Mendez. “Why a New Stanley Cup Is Causing a Frenzy at Target.” Time, Time, 5 Jan. 2024, time.com/6552422/stanley-cup-craze-target/.