Gave, chewed, sucked, smelled… Glues, erasers, notebooks and other pens suffer many indignations in classrooms. However, these school supplies sometimes contain disturbing chemicals and are not subject to special protective regulations for children, warns a notice published by the National Agency for Health Security (ANSES) on Thursday.
The agency took the issue on its own “A number of studies carried out by French or European organizations”, explains Céline Dubois, scientific coordinator of the ANSES peer review. Thus, many products have been found to contain phthalates, volatile organic compounds, nitrosamides, benzene, metals, dyes, preservatives, and perfumes. But the question is “Very poorly documented, with little scientific literature”regrets ANSES. Obviously, we don’t really know what these products contain, and even less the risks involved, both through direct contact (through skin, saliva, etc.) and through indoor air. As for European Safety Gate system alarms, their number is “Weak but steady over the years” and she “depends on sampling campaigns carried out by regulatory authorities”what? “Raises safety concerns for these items”.
No special regulations
However, they can be practiced daily by children who spend 25% of their time in class, with some exceptions (fetma, finger paint, etc.). “Not subject to any special regulation for their composition, manufacture or use”, ANSES notes. Manufacturers need only ensure that they exist “safe for the consumer’s intended and reasonable use”which obviously does not involve chewing on a pencil or sniffing a tube of glue… ANSES therefore considers that these products intended primarily for children should comply; “Regulations on toys, particularly on the chemical level”.says Celine Dubois.
We are told about CO2 sensors, air cleaners, opening windows… But never mechanical ventilation. All classrooms should be equipped with them, but the study showed that this was the case with only 11% of them. However, this is the only way to ensure a general and permanent renewal of the air.
Dr. Susan Dew, ENT physician and specialist in medical ecology and building health engineering
D:r: Suzanne Dew, an ENT doctor and specialist in medical ecology and health engineering in the construction industry, conducted the “Trouss’air” study to help the city of Grenoble implement health provisions in the public procurement of school supplies. He notes that if it were possible to easily eliminate allergenic substances, and if we still find many problematic products (ketone-based inks, glycol ethers in gel adhesives, etc.), “There are far fewer catastrophic products than a few years ago.”.
To change the rule, “Political decision makers need to catch up”, thinks Susan Dew. And in addition to direct contact with these products, we should also be concerned about the quality of the air children breathe. “They tell us about the CO sensors2:, air cleaners, opening windows… But never mechanical ventilation. All classrooms should be equipped with them, but the study showed that this was the case with only 11% of them. But this is the only way to ensure a general and permanent renewal of the air.
Tips for choosing lower-risk school supplies
• Read labels
Reading labels can be complicated and tedious, but it’s still useful. Be careful, though, when it comes to school supplies, it’s not enough. manufacturers are under no obligation to report the chemicals in their products, and some are more transparent than others…sometimes against their own interests. The fact that a label indicates the presence of potentially problematic substances does not mean that a given product is worse than a neighboring product that does not indicate anything on its label…
• Rely on labels
Labels have no regulatory power, but they provide guarantees on stamped products. Based on the results of the Trouss’air study for the city of Grenoble, in a leaflet prepared in 2019, the Environment and Energy Management Agency (Ademe) thus proposes labels: “which certify that products are more environmentally friendly and limit or ban substances harmful to health”. This is especially true for writing materials (pencils, pens, markers, markers) and erasers with the NF Environnement label; and stationery eco-label (notebook, diary, paper).
• Watch out for fun products…
It is necessary “Prefer accessories that don’t contain crafts like perfumes, glitters”, argues Céline Dubois at ANSES. Scented erasers, glitter pens or glue “promote mischievous behavior in children” with untimely chewing and sniffing, which contributes to the body’s exposure to risky substances… Choosing colored pencils made of unvarnished natural wood prevents children from being exposed to phthalates in varnishes. Also, be careful using certain products such as paints, resins, or India inks that: “considered to be works of art subject to a regulatory exemption that may contain hazardous materials”..
• Prefer tacky adhesives
In a practical paper published in 2019, Adem recommends vegetable adhesives, which are mainly made from starch; some even meet the European standard for toy safety (NF EN 71-3). Beware of preservatives like isothiazolinones, or IPBC, skin allergens found in nearly half of adhesives, according to the agency. Liquid or gel adhesives may contain hazardous, allergenic or dizzying substances.
• Tape straighteners and phthalate-free erasers
liquid rectifiers “contains and emits a very wide range of volatile solvents”and water-based ethylene glycol and ammonia, Adehme says; Therefore, it is necessary to give preference to roller skates in the shape of a mouse, the emissions of which are very low. Gums can contain many potentially problematic substances that are not always listed on the packaging; Ademan recommends choosing plastic vinyl erasers, or rubber erasers, noting the absence of latex.
• Markers, pens, markers
Some markers and colored pencils are considered toys; if they bear the CE mark, they comply with Directive 2009/48/EC, which guarantees the absence of carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic substances for reproduction and the obligation to indicate certain restrictions or certain allergenic substances. Pen ink as well as markers bearing the NF Environnement mark will emit less VOCs. On markers, pay attention to the labeling and know how to recognize the signs indicating a flammable or toxic hazard (a flame or an exclamation mark written in a red diamond).
Source: Le Figaro
