Art is a wonderful thing for children. It helps them develop creativity, cognitive skills and motor skills. It is also great for self-esteem. While these benefits are undeniable, art also poses some risks to children. That’s because many art supplies contain toxic chemicals.
It’s fairly well known that kids should not be exposed to certain types of paint. The chemical fumes are quite obvious and the containers are clearly labeled with warnings about breathing those fumes and ingesting the product. However, many parents are unaware that not every product that contains toxic ingredients is clearly identified. There are certain labeling standards that must be adhered to by law, but the label doesn’t always tell the whole story.
Every art supply sold in the United States must conform to ASTM D 4236 standards. This means that they must display warnings if they present an acute or chronic health hazard. However, manufacturers are not required to list each product’s ingredients on the label.
Some art supply manufacturers have their products tested by the Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI), which is a non-profit organization that conducts evaluation and testing. ACMI may approve the product or require the manufacturer to place a caution label on it. Products with caution labels are not recommended for use by children.
While these measures are helpful, some harmful products can still slip through the cracks. For example, in 2000, three brands of crayons bearing the ACMI seal of approval were reportedly found to contain asbestos. While asbestos was not used as an ingredient, it may contaminate talc, which was an ingredient. ACMI testing did not find asbestos, but the manufacturers voluntarily stopped using talc in their products.
Another concern involves ACMI’s standards for approval. They do not require that products contain no toxins whatsoever, but that toxins not be present in quantities that pose a hazard. That means that approved products may contain small amounts of solvents, heavy metals, phthalates and other substances that are known to be dangerous.
How to Choose Safe Products
Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee that a product we buy off the shelves contains absolutely no toxic chemicals, but we can make choices that are less likely to harm our children’s health. Here are some things to keep in mind:
* Avoid oil-based paints. They often contain solvents that can cause serious health problems. Watercolors are the safest choice for children, but even they can contain dangerous pigments. Make sure they bear the ACMI approved seal.
* Keep kids away from anything with a strong smell. This is usually an indicator that a solvent is present. In addition to paint, such solvents may also be found in markers. Choose markers that are water-based if possible. Alcohol-based markers contain some toxins, but they are less toxic than solvent-based ones.
* Steer clear of rubber cement and similar adhesives as they contain neurotoxins. White glue and library paste are much safer choices.
* Do not allow children to work with dry clay. Clay contains silica, which can be harmful if inhaled. Wet clay is much safer. Children should also be kept away from kilns because some of the dust is released when clay is dried in them.
If you are concerned about toxic chemicals in store-bought art supplies, you can make your own. Finger paint and playdough are easy to make at home. Using all-natural ingredients can eliminate concerns about hazardous chemicals. Many recipes for these can be found online, many of which are very easy to make.
It’s unfortunate that many art supplies can be detrimental to our children’s health, but if we make informed choices we can greatly reduce the risk and concentrate on the good things about art for kids.
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