According to recent lab tests, crayons and crime scene fingerprinting toys made in China contain asbestos, a known cancer-causing agent.
The company behind the dangerous crayons is Amscan, which makes Disney’s Mickey Mouse-, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles- and Power Rangers-branded crayons.
Altogether, 28 boxes were tested, according to reports, and four tested positive for asbestos. The tests were commissioned by the Environmental Working Group.
And it’s not like all the tainted toys were purchased from a single location. Crayons purchased from Dollar Tree, Party City, Toys R Us and Amazon tested positive.
What makes this even worse is that EWG claims the federal government has been aware of the asbestos-laden crayons since 2000. Despite the risk, they’re still being sold to unsuspecting families around the country.
“Asbestos in toys poses an unacceptable risk to children, today as it did in 2000 and 2007, the last time tests found the deadly substance in these children’s products,” asbestos expert Dr. Philip Landrigan says in the report. “Clearly some toy manufacturers haven’t done enough to protect children and others from asbestos in consumer products. Therefore, it’s high time the federal government bans asbestos in consumer products.”
Go check your kiddos’ crayon boxes!
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