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Back to school shopping shouldn’t include toxins

Kids across the country will be starting or returning to school over the next few weeks. This is an exciting time for kids and parents alike! Heading off to school often calls for a new list of supplies for the school year. Things like crayons, dry erase markers, and three-ring binders are often supplied by families instead of schools. Unfortunately, a 2018 study suggests those very items could contain toxins.

The U.S. Public Internet Research Group (PIRG) conducted tests on nearly 30 common school supplies in 2018, and found “potentially dangerous chemicals” in each of the aforementioned products. The dry erase markers for example contained hormonal system disruptors. These disruptors can cause “infertility problems, breast cancer, and prostate cancer.” The executive director of Madesafe, Amy Ziff, recommends that parents avoid “products made from number three plastics and cleaning wipes, which many teachers request for the classroom. They’re made of plastic and often contain chemicals.”

Items made from natural materials or containing an indicator that they’re “non-toxic” is often the best way to go. WSB-TV 2 Atlanta contacted the manufacturers and stores of the products in their story, and each told them their products were safe and the toxin limits were within “permissible limits”.

To read the full story by WSB-TV 2 Atlanta, follow this link: https://2wsb.tv/2M4XvMz