Safety in Children's Arts and Crafts
Projects
Shirley Niemeyer, Extension
Specialist, Home Environment
Arts and crafts activities
let young children express themselves creatively. If you offer arts and crafts,
it's important to have safe products and tools for the children in your care to
use.
Some arts and crafts products
contain solvents or materials that may expose children to toxic ingredients,
fumes, or dusts.
The Center for Occupational
Hazards recommends not letting children under 12 years of age use toxic art
products. The center suggests checking the labels on art materials, and using
only those identified as safe for children's use.
It's not easy to determine
which arts and crafts tools and materials are safe for children. Some materials
contain toxic or harmful chemicals, yet their labels will have inadequate
information about ingredients or precautions such as whether they are safe for
children.
Arts and crafts
product labels
Always read the packaging
label on any arts and crafts product or tool. Follow carefully the directions
and precautions listed on the label.
If the arts and crafts
product label does not have enough information for you to decide whether it is
safe, contact the manufacturer. Look for the company's phone number or address
on the label.
Ask the manufacturer about
product use with young children. Also, ask for a copy of the Material Safety
Data Sheet (MSDS). The MSDS gives specific information about flammability,
toxicity, ingredients, and use.
When reading the product
label, look for these three phrases:
-
Nontoxic
-
Meets American Society
for Testing Materials (ASTM) regulations for chronic long-term health
hazards
-
Certified Product (CP)
or Approved Product (AP).
(1) Nontoxic
When a manufacturer
advertises a product as "nontoxic," it means the product has passed
the acute or short-term toxicity test required by the Federal Hazardous
Substance Act. Nothing, however, is implied about the product's long-term
toxicity. Therefore, materials that may cause long-term toxicity could carry a
"nontoxic" label.
(2) Meets ASTM regulations
for long-term health hazards
To address the issue of
long-term toxicity, the Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act took effect in
1990. This new law requires labels of hazardous art materials to disclose the
potential for chronic long-term health hazards.
The Labeling of Hazardous
Art Materials Act supplements the Federal Hazardous Substances Act. This act
spells out labeling requirements for acute hazards such as flammability or
irritation.
Some manufacturers
voluntarily have labeled arts and crafts materials for such hazards. The new
law, however, mandates labeling standards.
The law requires labeling
of such products as solvents, spray paints, silk screen inks, adhesives, and
any other "substance marketed or represented as suitable for use in any
phase of the creation of a visual or graphic art of any medium." Although
only potentially hazardous art materials must have safety labeling, all art
materials should bear a statement indicating if they conform with ASTM
D-4236-88 as in Example 1.
(3) Certified Product (CP)
or Approved Product (AP)
The Certified Product (CP)
or Approved Product (AP) seal identifies some art materials as safe for
children's use. To carry either of these seals, an authority on toxicology
from the Art and Craft Materials Institute has evaluated the product. This
certification means there are no materials in the art product in sufficient
quantity to be toxic or to injure the body even if ingested.
|
WARNING! HARMFUL
IF SWALLOWED.
MAY PRODUCE BIRTH DEFECTS.
Contains lead.
When using, do not
eat, drink, or smoke.
Wash hands immediately after use.
Should not be used by pregnant women.
Keep out of reach of children.
Conforms to ASTM
D-4236-88
(Name, address, and telephone number of manufacturer or importer.) |
Example 1. An arts product label that confirms with ASTM D-4236-88.
Beware of exposing the
children in your care (your staff and yourself, too) to the toxic and harmful
chemicals found in some arts and crafts materials. Exposure may occur through
the skin, by inhalation, or by ingestion.
Through the skin---Exposure
through the skin may result in skin problems and dermatitis. Skin is a
protective organ. Acids, alkalis, peroxides, organic solvents, bleaches and
other chemicals may penetrate and injure the skin.
Inhalation---You can
inhale smoke, fumes, dusts, and spray mists. These materials may damage the
lining of your airways and lungs.
Ingestion--Ingestion
of dangerous materials may occur when you eat, drink, or prepare food with
contaminated hands or while wearing contaminated clothing. It also occurs when
you use contaminated containers or utensils for serving or storing food.
Substitute--Use less
hazardous art materials and solvents instead of more harmful products. There
are many substitutions that may be safer for use around young children.
For example, use
water-based products instead of oil-based. Remember, though, to read the label
and look for those materials identified as safe for children's use. Also, keep
in mind that you can clean water-based products with water instead of other
solvents. Consider letting the children use safe water-based adhesives instead
of flammable rubber cement.
It may be safer to buy
supplies in premixed paste or liquid formulations instead of powder forms.
This reduces exposure to dusts. Try to avoid using aerosol sprays because of
the fine mists that you or the children can inhale.
Be sure to check the
product label and the MSDS for specific information. If in doubt, contact the
manufacturer, a toxicologist, or a poison control center for more information.
Equip craft and work
areas properly; keep areas clean--Work surfaces should be hard and smooth
for easy and thorough cleaning. Post emergency phone numbers by the telephone.
Ventilate--For the
children's safety, ventilate the craft area. Consider using a fan to blow air
out one window while fresh air is coming in another window; this is called
cross ventilation. A fan simply moving air around a room, however, is not an
effective method of ventilation because it allows vapors to disperse
throughout your child care facility. You may need to install an exhaust
system.
Store materials safely--Keep
containers tightly closed when not in use. Keep products in their original
containers so you or staff members can read the label or directions. Never
store materials in food containers.
Protect against
exposure--Avoid skin contact by having the children wear protective
clothing such as gloves, long sleeves and pants, aprons, or other covers. Do
not allow food or drinks in the art area because of the risk of contamination.
Have children wash their hands carefully after doing arts and crafts.
Use age-appropriate
products--Do not let children use adult art materials that contain toxic
solvents, glues, metals, acids, or alkalis. Do not let children ingest
products that feature special colors, odors, or flavors.
Select and use safe tools
for craft projects. Also, keep in mind the children's abilities to handle
tools. Tools such as scissors, paint brushes, and pencils can cause injury if
handled improperly.
Generally, examine the tool
for sharp edges or points. Make sure the tool is not so small that any of the
children can swallow or choke on it.
Teach the children how to
use appropriate tools safely. When not in use, pick up and store arts and
crafts tools in a safe place.
For more
information
The Art Hazards Information
Center, a project of the Center for Occupational Hazards, will answer written
and telephone inquiries about arts and crafts materials hazards and precautions.
The information center has several publications including age-appropriate
listings. For a publication list, enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope,
and write to:
Art Hazards Information
Center
5 Beekman St., Suite 1030
New York, NY 10038
(212) 227-6220
University of Nebraska Cooperative
Extension
Path:
Home>Education>Health
Information>Safety in
Children's Arts and Crafts Projects
|
