As most of the schools across the country are getting ready for a fresh start after the long summer holidays, parents are busy shopping for their children's back-to-school supplies, unaware of the hidden risks involved in some of the products available in the market.
Authorities from the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ), concerned about the negative impact of some of the toxic chemicals found in the school products provide parents some guidelines for making their children safe from the chemical exposure.
According to CHEJ, polyvinyl chloride (PVC or vinyl) is one of the most common plastics used in manufacturing school products such as lunchboxes, backpacks and binders. Vinyl contains dangerous chemical preservatives such as phthalates, lead, cadmium and organotins.
Majority of vinyl products use phthalates to soften them. Phthalates are chemicals that have been linked to cause asthma, learning disabilities and diabetes in children. Though Congress banned the toxic chemical from using in children's toys, they are widely found in most of the children's school products.
Apart from PVC, polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) are some other plastics found to cause health concern among children. For a safer side, it's always better to go for a non-plastic product.
Even low -exposure to these chemicals can be risky for children. So following are some of the tips put forward by authorities to help parents avoid these plastic products:
- Avoid PVC food wrapper and always go for butcher paper, waxed paper, low density polyethylene (LDPE) or cellulose bags.
- Avoid lunch boxes with warning labels and vinyl lunchboxes, use cloth lunch bags instead or with label "PVC-free"
- Backpacks with shiny plastic designs should be avoided
- Avoid vinyl raincoats, and check the PVC-free label while purchasing handbags, jewelry. It's better to go for fabrics and other materials like velvets and satins
- Use fabric smocks and avoid PVC. Do not use polymer clays such as Fimo and Sculpey as they are made of PVC
- Use plain metal paperclips instead of colored paper clips
- Nylon umbrellas are good as shiny and colourful plastic umbrellas are made of PVC
- Do not buy notebooks with plastic coating
