Lead in buckets

[coastie]

When did they take the lead out of galvanized buckets?

[happy thoughts]

This brochure from UVM suggests mid 90's.

http://agnr.osu.edu/sites/agnr/files/imce/pdfs/maplesyrup/KeepingLeadOutofMapleSyrup.pdf

[Snowmad]

I don't want to get on anyone's naughty list, but is lead in a sap bucket pretty low on the list of things that are consumed that will be harmful to your health? Think of all the lead water pipes, syrup pans, etc. that have been used over the year. Is it really that big of a deal? I had a maple equipment rep tell me you'd have to drink gallons of syrup a day with the small traces of lead in it to do any damage.

[Sinzibuckwud]

Thing with lead is, once it get's in you it doesn't come out. It keeps on accumulating over your lifetime.
trace amounts are not dangerous I agree, but it's best to remove it from your food and water sources whenever possible in my honest opinion.
Wonder how much I got from all those split shot sinkers I bit with my teeth???..:lol:

[saphound]

I don't want to get on anyone's naughty list, but is lead in a sap bucket pretty low on the list of things that are consumed that will be harmful to your health? Think of all the lead water pipes, syrup pans, etc. that have been used over the year. Is it really that big of a deal? I had a maple equipment rep tell me you'd have to drink gallons of syrup a day with the small traces of lead in it to do any damage.


well, you can take a maple rep's word for it, but you would really have to have your syrup tested to know for sure. If you haven't clicked the link above, you should, it's pretty interesting. Anyone using older metal taps, buckets, milk cans, pans, pumps, etc should definitely read it.

[Snowmad]

I don't know how I've lived this long. What is the cost for lead testing?

[saphound]

I don't know how I've lived this long. What is the cost for lead testing?

I have no idea. I don't worry about it because everything I use is lead free. Glad for that because I pour a lot of syrup on my grandkids pancakes. It's not always about me, or you. ;)

[Bucket Head]

Several years ago I had my syrup tested. It was done by Endyne, Inc. and was around $30 dollars when I did it. I don't know what the current charge is. It is a very inexpensive test and gives great peace of mind to those who are wondering.

Contact them, they'll send you some paperwork, you send them a sample(s) and a check and they tell you if your under or over the 500 Parts Per Billion that is the Federal legal limit for lead.

[Bucket Head]

I found my paperwork from my lead test. I may have the parts per million/billion limit incorrect. Or, maybe the federal limit is different from what Vermont and other states mandates? Not sure on that.

Anyway, the paperwork states that Vermont's action level for lead is .250 parts per million, so that is the standard Endyne uses.

For those who are interested the company is Endyne, Inc. and their number is 802-879-4333. They only require one ounce of syrup for the test so even the smallest producer won't be out much syrup if they are wondering about the lead.

Steve