Dozens of widely used toothpaste brands—including Sensodyne, Crest, and Colgate—contain hazardous heavy metals such as lead and arsenic, according to new third-party laboratory research commissioned by Lead Safe Mama and reported by The Guardian.
Of the 51 toothpaste and tooth powder brands tested, an alarming 90% were found to contain lead. Additionally, 65% tested positive for arsenic, a highly toxic substance. The findings have sparked widespread concern among public health experts and consumer advocates.
Children’s toothpaste also found to contain mercury and cadmium
The products tested included several brands specifically marketed for children. Nearly half (47%) of those contained mercury, while 35% were found to have cadmium, another toxic metal.
“It’s unconscionable—especially in 2025,” said Tamara Rubin, founder of Lead Safe Mama. “What’s really interesting to me is that no one thought this was a concern.”
State guidelines violated, but federal standards lag behind
While the levels of heavy metals identified in the study violate the safety thresholds established by the state of Washington, they do not breach current federal limits. This regulatory gap has drawn sharp criticism from public health advocates.
The Mayo Clinic has long emphasized that no amount of lead exposure is considered safe. “Even small amounts of lead can cause serious health problems,” its website notes.
Children at heightened risk from exposure
Lead exposure is especially dangerous for young children. “Those younger than 6 years are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can severely affect mental and physical development,” the Mayo Clinic warns. “At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal.”
Given these risks, the presence of heavy metals in oral hygiene products—used daily by millions of families—has raised urgent questions about ingredient transparency and regulatory oversight.
Top brands implicated in testing
Among the toothpaste brands found to contain one or more toxic metals were
- Crest
- Sensodyne
- Tom’s of Maine
- Colgate
- Dr Bronner’s
- Davids
- Dr Jen
- Dr Brite
The products were tested through what Lead Safe Mama described as a “community collaborative, independent, third-party laboratory initiative,” directed and funded with public involvement.
As scrutiny intensifies, consumers and public health experts alike are demanding greater accountability from both manufacturers and regulators, urging immediate reforms in safety standards for personal care products.