August 28, 2012
Back to school time in Texas means it’s also time to buy school supplies; however, KVUE News says parents need to be careful when buying school supplies for their children, as some could be dangerously toxic.
Research recently conducted by the Oregon Environmental Council (OEC) found that after testing of 20 types of children’s school supplies found nationwide, roughly 80 percent contained dangerous levels of phthalates, a chemical often found in plastics. Furthermore, 75 percent contained levels of the chemical that are considered to be hazardous to children. A spokeswoman for the OEC, Jen Coleman, stated, “This chemical, when it’s inhaled or ingested, can lead to birth defects, asthma, allergies and all sorts of other disorders.” She went on to explain, “Toys have limits on the amount of phthalates they can have in them, but because these are back-to-school products, they’re not considered toys … there are no limits on phthalates in these products.”
So, as a parent, how can you keep your children safe from these defective products?
- Check the labels of any plastic product to see if it contains phthalates
- Avoid any plastic containing Recycling Code #3
- For food storage, use glass containers
- Avoid certain fragranced beauty products, many marked as containing phthalates
The Austin personal injury lawyers with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers hope that these tips will help you avoid any unwanted exposure to toxic chemicals that could negatively affect you or your child.
