Asbestos - Colorfully Correct
A Health Care Article Contributed by Indra Chopra
Asbestos in Crayons
Ethel was nibbling her yellow crayon and the other colors too seemed to be chewed up. 3 year old Ethel is not expected to know about asbestos fibers in her crayons. Her parents and teachers were unaware till informed about test results released by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) about asbestos content in crayons. The CPSC found asbestos traces along with another fiber, called 'transitional' fiber, similar in appearance to asbestos fiber. The transitional fibers found in talc is used as binding agent in crayons.
Asbestos Content
It was found that Crayola, the largest selling brand has about 0.05% and 2.86% in carnation pink and orchid crayons. Prang, the other well-known brand has between 0.3% and 0.54% in Periwinkle and yellow colors while the third brand, Rose art, has between 0.03% to 1.20% in brown and orange colors respectively. The CPSC tests might have reassured parents and teachers to let children use crayons, the concern is very much existent. On a precautionary level CPSC requested industry to use substitute ingredients.
Concern with Asbestos Content
Children are at a greater risk to asbestos than adults simply because their metabolism makes them easy targets of toxins and carcinogens. You give children crayons and see them drool. They simply love it to such an extent that the crayons find a way into their mouths. Children spend hours sharpening crayons to have a perfect tip and the shavings are stored in the bottom of their crayon boxes. Constant fiddling and the same fingers enter the nose and mouth of the child. Consequently, if these crayons contain asbestos there is every possibility of the child getting infected.
Majority crayon manufacturers use talc transitional fibers as binding agent for durability and strength. The talc fibers and crayons made with talc contain traceable amounts of asbestos and asbestos-like material. Although the presence of asbestos is miniscule to hazard a boycott of crayons, educate children to avoid putting crayons in their mouths. The reason for this limited reaction is that talc fibers are embedded in wax and not released into air, unlike asbestos fibers.
Secondly asbestos causes cancer when it crumbles at touch and since crayons are non friable they do not have that far reaching affect.
Asbestos - no Kid Stuff
Concerned about children safety, crayon manufacturers have agreed to review and comply with regulations. Another product to check is the good old talcum or baby powders. The labels should be read carefully to see if the main ingredient is talc or corn starch.
With all the health warnings the use of asbestos and asbestos based products has reduced. One cannot do without crayons as they have been and still are favorites of millions of children worldwide. To assure that asbestos does not find a way into their bodies requires constant monitoring by parents, teachers, pediatricians and government-certified laboratories.
Twinkling Bright and Beautiful
The bright vivid colors attract and engross a child for hours and if there is asbestos in the crayon the particle enter into the lungs. The damage procedure follows, as childhood exposure to carcinogens is responsible for significant number of adult cancers. So how does one differentiate and select? There are approximately 100 different brands of crayons in the market and as many more find their way from overseas. Brands from within country and abroad are supposed to carry the label "non-toxic."
The CPSC has asked the crayon manufacturers to use substitute environment and health friendly ingredients.
We have to make sure that for Ethel and her friends the 'flamboyant' pink is not a cancer crayon.
