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Be Aware of Toxic Chemicals in Art Supplies Posted by Tamara Wilson in Home and Family on June 25, 2009 | 8 responses

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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. But 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. Manufacturers are not, however, 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.

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 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. 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 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. Recipes may be found online.

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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Begin Article SingleBegin Comments Template You can start editing here. 8 Responses to “Be Aware of Toxic Chemicals in Art Supplies”

1. Daria says: June 25, 2009 at 5:39 pm

   Very useful info – thank you!!

   Darias last blog post..Koi Fish Drawings

2. Toy Kitchen says: June 29, 2009 at 9:37 am

   Thank you for that post. I’m a huge believer in the use of crafts at home. My kids love it and I love watching them create. I wasn’t aware of any of this and I’m thankful for the information.

3. Sea Fishing Rods says: June 29, 2009 at 6:10 pm

   thanks for this info as a parent it is good to know. There are so many things these days that contain harmful toxic chemicals and we need to be a wear of them all for the sake of our children.

4. Outdoor Living Furniture says: June 29, 2009 at 6:15 pm

   Great info thanks as I have a little one that loves to paint and draw.

5. Selene says: July 6, 2009 at 10:49 pm

   Cool tips! Information campaign like this is very helpful especially that nowadays some consumer products that contain toxic substances get passed national quality assessment and are even get sold in our local markets. Somehow, simple tips like these reinforce consumers to be very keen in their purchases such as art materials.

6. Gino Franco says: July 8, 2009 at 10:03 am

   It’s unfortunate that many art supplies can be detrimental to our children’s health.

7. Cindi says: July 9, 2009 at 11:56 am

   It is a shame that we have to go to such extreme measures to keep our children safe from toxins. Exploring creative expression at a young age is important for child development. Studies have shown that playing with clay and play dough helps with motor skills as well as drawing and coloring. Thanks to you and many other informational blogs we as parents and grandparents can begin to make informed decisions concerning art supplies. The upside is when you make some of these products at home, it becomes a great science project and teaches kids to use things we have around the house.

   Cindis last blog post..Sustainablebabyish Snapless-Multi: A Review & Giveaway!!

8. Jenna says: July 9, 2009 at 5:29 pm

   Oh thank you! I was planning to have art weekends at home with my kids. If there are some safe products you can recommend that’d be great.

Tamara Wilson in, Be Aware of Toxic Chemicals in Art Supplies, Jun 2009