UFC-Que Choisir looked for toxic substances in 52 school supplies. And the report card is far from brilliant, worries the consumer association.
A few days before the start of the school year, UFC-Que Choisir publishes the “distressing” results a laboratory test for undesirable substances in school supplies. The children’s schoolbag was thus scrutinized.
More specifically, the consumer association looked for the presence of endocrine disruptors, carcinogenic, toxic or allergenic compounds in 52 items that schoolchildren love: ballpoint pens, ink cartridges, paper and colored pencils, erasable markers, glues in stick and glitter, scented pens and felt-tip pens… “And the report card is far from brilliant! », worries the consumer association in a press release.
Phthalates and endocrine disruptors
Of 52 products tested, 19 of them, or more than a third of the sample, should be avoided and contain “a sad anthology of undesirable substances”, she reports. The list almost makes you want to boycott the start of the school year. We find for example endocrine disrupting phthalates in colored pencils and pencils, or irritating formaldehyde in a glue stick.
As for the inks, the tests revealed, depending on the product, carcinogenic impurities, or allergenic preservatives or fragrances. And the big brands are not a guarantee to buy “clean”, specifies the UFC.
In the department of scented pens and markers, it is a Bic product (1) that contains the most allergens. Ditto for ink cartridges. It’s at Waterman and paper mate (2) that the investigators found the highest levels of methylisothiazolinone, a particularly allergenic preservative.
Conversely, some inexpensive items from private labels (MDD) are several times on the honor roll, “even if all private labels are not equal”, underlines the survey.
More vulnerable children
A worrying finding since these seemingly innocuous products are gateways into the body. Harmful substances can be ingested when children chew on pens and pencils, or pass through their skin when they stain their fingers with ink or glue. The association recalls that exposure to endocrine disruptors at an early stage of children’s development amplifies the risk of impact.
With regard to allergens, repeated sensitization throughout school life increases the risk of triggering allergies. “These risks are all the more inadmissible as certain products which benefit from marketing targeted at the youngest (glitter glue, felt-tip pens and scented pens), are of no real use and therefore unnecessarily expose children to these substances”, s offended the UFC.
Legal products
But the most surprising thing about this observation is undoubtedly the “ zero points for the legislator”. Because, apart from the scented markers ”Giotto Turbo scents” containing prohibited allergens, none of the products tested are in violation. Unlike toys or pacifiers, school supplies are not subject to any specific regulations, no more than a European directive or a national text. The association points out that they have not even no obligation to bear the CE marking…
Thus, while the regulations applicable to toys strongly limit allergenic fragrances in markers, pens are not subject to any specific obligation and can legally contain much higher doses.
The UFC reveals more than 10,000 ppm of benzyl alcohol (an allergen) in a pen, ie 100 times more than the authorized levels for markers! The UFC sums up the parents’ races with strong words: “in store, it’s Russian roulette”.
(1) Ballpoint pen ‘Bic crystal pocket scents‘
(2) Serenity Blue International ‘Waterman’ and Blue Standard ‘Paper Mate – Reynolds’ Ink Cartridges
The recommendations of UFC-Que Choisir
In view of these elements, the UFC-Que Choisir asks the Directorate General for Competition, Consumption and the Repression of Fraud (DGCCRF), the immediate withdrawal of the scented markers ‘Giotto Turbo scents’ because of their non – compliance with current regulations. He also urges Martine Pinville, Minister of Consumer Affairs, as well as the European Commission to strengthen community regulations by defining obligations applicable to school supplies taking into account the sensitivity of young consumers. Finally, while waiting for answers, he recommends that parents prefer the least risky items and advises against the purchase of felt-tip pens or scented pens and glitter glue.
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