Recent lab results found traces of asbestos, lead, benzene, and other dangerous chemicals in popular American school supplies. The U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund tested classroom materials and found toxins in some crayons, markers and binders. School supplies asbestos exposure may be rare but a real risk.
Among the school-related products that tested positive for toxic substances included Hasbro’s Playskool crayons sold at Dollar Tree, which had traces of asbestos, EXPO dry erase markers and Amazon and Mattel’s Board Dudes markers, both of which had traces of BTEX—four chemicals linked to liver, kidney and immune system damage, including benzene, a known carcinogen.
Another Dollar Tree product, the Jot 1-inch three-ring binder, tested positive for traces of phthalates, toxic chemicals used to soften plastics which can cause health issues for children, including issues with development, asthma and childhood obesity.
Joe Lyon is a highly-rated Cincinnati Product Liability Attorney and Ohio Toxic Tort Lawyer investigating dangerous products and toxic school supplies asbestos lawsuits for plaintiffs nationwide.
Identifying Toxic School Supplies
The United States Public Interest Research Group Education Fund had an independent laboratory test 27 back-to-school products, and reported that four tested positive for dangerous chemicals, including more than one cancer-causing toxin.
The organization said in the wake of the report that the presence of toxic hazards in school supplies “highlights the need for constant vigilance on the part of government agencies and the public.”
Product liability lawsuits are likely to be filed against the manufacturers of unsafe products to ensure the companies adhere to safety standards in the future. Victims of such unsafe products may have a case against a liable manufacturer or distributor.
The safety advocate group urged the Consumer Product Safety Commission to test more school supplies for dangerous chemicals. The independent lab has already tested crayons, markers, binders, water bottles, lunchboxes, notebooks, rulers and glue. Some school products contained the following:
- Asbestos—at least one Playskool crayon tested positive for tremolite, a form of asbestos. Tremolite is responsible for asbestos-related cancer and asbestos diseases, according to medical studies. Other crayons sold under five other brands like Crayola, Up & Up, Cra-Z-Art, Disney Junior Mickey and the Roadster Racers, and RoseArt tested negative for toxins.
- Benzene—four dry-erase markers were sent to the lab, and two tested positive for a group of dangerous compounds known as B.T.E.X.: benzene, toluene, xylene, and ethylbenzene. Benzene is a known carcinogen and was found in The Board Dudes markers, made by Mattel. Benzene does damage to normal functioning cells, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and long-term exposure may lead to blood cancers. Expo dry-erase scented marker also tested positive for B.T.E.X. compounds.
- Phthalates—a Jot-brand three-ring binder from Dollar Tree tested positive for phthalates, a group of chemicals added to plastics but may affect human reproduction or development.
