Group Finds Poison In Children’s Crayons (Beware Buying School Supplies)

You are a good parent, and you certainly want to keep your children safe and healthy. Why, then, are toy and craft manufacturers sabotaging you? That’s the question that thousands of parents are asking in the aftermath of the discovery that crayons and toy kits have trace amounts of asbestos.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a dangerous carcinogen that has been outlawed or removed in many industries. Home inspections often check for asbestos, since breathing it in or being around it every day can lead to serious health effects. Asbestos is a tiny fiber.

It is often used for packaging or insulation. However, it is rare to come across it at all in the United States nowadays, which is why this discovery is so shocking. Unfortunately, this fiber can have serious consequences for your children’s health.

Research has linked asbestos exposure to lung cancer, other types of lung disease, and mesothelioma. When it is not disturbed, asbestos is not typically dangerous. However, when it is moved around, it can become airborne and get breathed in. That’s where the danger really lies.

Why Asbestos is in Your Kid’s Toys

You may wonder why asbestos is anywhere near children’s toys if it’s so dangerous. Unfortunately, you know that manufacturers often value profits over the experience and safety of their customers. That’s what happened in this case.

Asbestos is an easily obtained and often inexpensive material that can be used in the creation of toys and packing materials. When the Environmental Working Group conducted an investigation, they found that four of 28 boxes of crayons contained asbestos and two of 21 crime toy kits contained asbestos.

All of these were made in China, which may indicate a lack of safety laws and standards in the manufacturing process.

Protecting Your Children from Asbestos

Since asbestos is such a health risk, it is up to you as a parent to protect your children from this dangerous chemical. What can you do? First, ensure that you buy only American-made toys and craft products. There are also many other countries that have strict production standards that do not use asbestos.

Before you buy something for your children, check to see where it was made. Often, if something is cheap, there’s a reason for it. Though protecting your children from asbestos may mean cutting down on toy purchases, you can feel good knowing that you are giving them higher-quality and safer toys.

In addition, you are supporting the national economy and giving your money to manufacturers who care about your children’s safety.If you worry about the toys your children already have, look for their product information online.You can easily find out if the toys your children are playing with were made in China.

You may also want to contribute to efforts to ban asbestos. The laws and policies around children’s products are surprisingly relaxed, making it easy for manufacturers to use subpar materials. An across-the-board ban may lead to safer toys for everyone, and isn’t that what everyone wants?

Sources:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/08/health/crayons-toys-asbestos-report/index.html

http://insider.foxnews.com/2015/07/11/report-asbestos-found-childrens-crayons-toys

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Sam Rogers

Lemon, cucumber, mint water is my jam, I make my own apple-jalapeño salsa, and I do a lot of push-ups. I’m a young writer who believes in living well and uncovering the truth. I’m frustrated that a healthy diet is more expensive than a fat-filled, sugar-saturated, chemical-crusted one and that so few people seem to care. I can’t believe that we continue to lead sedentary lifestyles, despite the overwhelming evidence that it’s bad for our health. I’m no longer content with a life of mediocre health and am passionate about helping others lead lives that are far better than the current normal.