Authorities have detected toxic chemicals in children's school products.
Officials from Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) found high levels of the industrial chemicals phthalates or plasticizers in children's vinyl back-to-school supplies. The findings bring concern as exposure to the chemical has been linked to many health problems like cancer, behavior problems (ADHD), asthma and long-term effects on girls like giving birth to cleft palate child or preterm birth.
Elevated levels of toxic phthalates were found in 75 percent of popular children's products -Disney, Spiderman and Dora branded school bags and also vinyl lunchboxes, backpacks, 3-ring binders, raincoats and rainboots.
Though phthalates have been phased out of many products in the country, there is no such law that prevents the toxin from being used in the children's school products.
"It's disturbing that millions of young children are being exposed to toxic chemicals with to no enforcements to protect them," said Judy Braiman of the Empire State Consumer Project report co-publisher, in a news release.
Officials also urged parents to choose phthalate-free back-to-school products to protect their children and family from the exposure and avoid the risks.
"This report highlights the fact that parents can't assume that a product is safe for their kids simply because it's on a store shelf. Nothing could be further from the truth," said Kathy Curtis, Executive Director, Clean and Healthy New York. "We need comprehensive laws that make sure chemicals are safe."
Phthalates are widely used in some children's toys (including teethers), decorating and building products, blood bags, cosmetics, personal care products, insecticides and some oral pills. It's an allergen and can block or mimic hormones, can harm reproductive system (decreased sperm count, damaged sperm) and normal development of a fetus or child. Phthalate plasticizers are the most widely used plasticizers in Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the third most widely used plastic after polyethylene and polypropylene.
Following are some tips from CHEJ to identify PVC or the poison plastic :
- Products contain the label "vinyl" on them
- It's easy to identify the PVC packaging, as it comes with the recycling symbols -number '3' or letter 'V' or 'PVC.'
- Dial 1-800 and enquire with the manufacturer or retailer about the plastic.
