It is unclear what you are asking. Are you interested in knowing if newly manufactured metal spindles have lead as a part of the metal? are you talking about steel/iron or aluminum? Or are you worried about old/preexisting/antique spindles?

New metal spindles. I am curious about all of them because I am trying to decide. Aestheically I would like metal spindles but if they are a hazard for my 4 kids, then I need to decide differently. I am leaning toward Oiled Copper.

To my knowledge, in the US there are standards for lead in products due to its toxicity and potential damage to growing kids. So now many things that used to have lead content like some toys, gasoline, and paint no longer legally have them. I likely would not buy metal spindles manufactured outside of countries that have similar standards to the US (for instance, there have been news stories over the years about toys manufactured in China having lead) but would not be concerned with Canadian, European and US manufactured items. Check the manufacturer’s specs, check consumer info sites, both federal government and private such as Consumer Reports, and building materials testing sites. I would also ask the place that you are planning to buy from for references.

Is there a particular reason you have for concern over these vs. other building materials?

Lead in paint has been banned in the US since about 1978. Anything manufactured after that is required to be lead-free.

Just as I suspected conjecture and opinions rather than factual info. Although lead in residential paints was banned, it is still used in industrial and marine paints as well as in metalworking to help with the pliability of the metal. Please look up Lead Safe Mama for more info. I am concerned about all building materials. It is one of the main reasons I am holding off on renovating my bathrooms because of the lead in ceramic tiles. I'm really not trying to be snarky but I keep hitting a wall when it comes to this decision and I need some definitive info.

I'm an environmental scientist and mom that would not worry about lead in spindles. In order for them to be a hazard to your children, there would need to be an exposure pathway. Lead paint chipped and created dust, providing a way for young children to ingest the lead. There is/was also concern about teething children chewing on window sills at mouth level. Neither of these things would happen with vertical metal spindles.

I had a new oak staircase installed about a year ago with metal balusters, no lead. You can always contact the manufacturer of any baluster to find out their composition ❣️

How exactly do you know there is no lead?

Ask Lead Free Mama to test the spindles you want to use or pay for a lab to do so if you are that concerned.

Call the railing manufacturer. Their specs will have the makeup /material of the railing.

You could also see if anyone you know has access to a handheld xrf analyzer. It will tell you the elemental makeup (if lead is there). But that’s what the supplier is using most likely to confirm materials from their vendors.

Renee, if you don’t want conjecture and opinions, why are you asking on a forum???

I too am confused. Lead is not a component of modern cast or wrought iron spindles. The danger in the old days came from the lead in the paints. I haven't heard that modern iron is an issue.

Yes lead is mixed into metals,brass and such, I believe as alloys, to help with pliability.

So don't buy brass.I still see no evidence of lead in iron.

Lead may be put into steels for machinability (we had one rolled gear that had such a req't) but in general lead is not desirable in steels because it acts as a stress riser and can start fatigue failures during operation, cause havoc with electroplating and other finishing operations, etc. It's also an environmental headache for the steel mills, so there is little/no production of leaded steels nowadays. Wrought iron (somewhat pure iron worked by hammering) is no longer made as wrought iron used to be; they now start with rolled steel (iron + manganese), hammer the surface to distress it, shape it as desired and paint/finish it.

Lead was also added to the brasses and bronzes for machinability and added to copper bearing alloys for start-up lubricity. Because of environmental concerns at the foundry and RoHs legislation, many bearing alloys are being shifted to non-leaded copper or have gone to alternative aluminum bearing alloys, etc.. Plumbing brasses have all gone to non-lead alloys because of water quality issues (lead can leach out in some waters and be ingested), but also because of the environmental expense at the brass foundry. Even plumbing solder solder and connections on copper circuit boards are now lead-free because of RoHs.

Lead in paint has been outlawed since 1978, so unless you are buying overseas products of questionable quality, that is a non-issue.

Honestly, lead is not an issue around the home nowadays. I think your time worrying about lead would be better spent helping the citizens of Flint, MI deal with their lead water pipe issues. IMO, in contrast with your concerns, that is a real problem.

Renee Ghenciu: if HU’s above information does not convince you that there is not lead in iron balusters, then just use wood balusters for your stairs.

Renee Ghenciu You are right to be concerned.

Lead Safe Mama tested Baldwin door/ cabinet hardware and showed that they have excessive/ toxic lead levels in their products. Ironically she showed that the super cheap stainless steel doorknobs that were super lightweight were the safest at Home Depot.

I couldn't find any "buried" articles on Google about lead in metal balusters/ stair spindles.

As another person mentioned look at Lead-Safe Mama's site:

https://tamararubin.com/2019/12/a-new-idea-an-index-for-leadsafemama-com/

You probably got your balusters already but if you have an extra metal baluster you can take it to a lab for lead testing.

@ NHBabs z4b-5a NH The US government agencies don't test nor does it enforce it's substandard lead level requirements until after lead poisoning is reported.

If it did then KitchenAid would not be allowed to sell their attachments that are full of lead:

https://tamararubin.com/?s=KitchenAid

Baldwin door and cabinet hardware which people touch all day are full of lead:

https://tamararubin.com/?s=Baldwin

If the USA Government and US companies were ethical and actually cared about our children then Lead Safe Mama, Tamara Rubin, would not have a child who suffered horrific lead poisoning. Her poor son was bullied for trying to fix the water fountains which have high lead levels in the water at his school.

It is because of Tamara Rubin and other grass root organizations that some offending companies actually get caught.

Here is Lead Safe Mama's list of items with lead:

https://tamararubin.com/topics/