Denver—Polymer
clays that are highly popular at schools, childcare centers, and arts
centers contain chemicals that may threaten children’s health,
according to a new study released today by CoPIRG. Such clays can be
found in many Front Range Colorado toy stores. Eleven of eighteen
stores called in a recent CoPIRG survey reported selling at least one
of the clay brands.
Hidden Hazards: Health Impacts of Toxins in Polymer Clays
reveals laboratory tests indicating that children using polymer clays
as Sculpey, Fimo, and Cernit can be exposed to high levels of
phthalates (pronounced “tha-lates”): chemicals associated with
reproductive disorders, birth deformities, and other health effects.
“Polymer clays contain hidden hazards that may harm children’s health
even when used as directed,” said CoPIRG's Jennie Puzio. “There are no
regulations for these products, but playing with the clays can result
in exposure levels many times higher than allowed in situations like
drinking water or workplace exposures.”
Phthalates
are petroleum derivatives used to soften plastics, and are also found
in cosmetics, soap, shampoo, hair spray, solvents, pesticides, inks,
aspirin, and flea collars. Lab research shows that various phthalate
esters can reduce fertility, cause reproductive problems in male
offspring, and give rise to liver and thyroid damage. Some occupational
evidence links phthalate exposure to high rates of miscarriage in
female workers and long-term nerve damage. Some phthalates have also
been linked to cancer.
According
to the report, the clays contained up to 14 percent phthalates by
weight when tested by the Environmental Quality Institute at the
University of North Carolina- Asheville for CoPIRG.
“Phthalate
compounds clearly have the potential to damage health in developing
organisms,” said Puzio. “There is no excuse for a regulatory system
that allows children’s products to contain these chemicals in
unrestricted amounts and no excuse for manufacturers’ misleading
consumers by labeling these clays ‘non-toxic.’”
CoPIRG
criticized the clays’ ‘non-toxic’ certification, which is given by the
Arts and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI), comprised of
manufacturers of art and crafts material. The ACMI did not consider the
full range of chemicals that were found in the report when designating
the clays as ‘non-toxic’.
The
report points out some of the broader problems relating to the
regulation of toxic chemicals in the U.S. Federal laws to protect
humans from exposure to toxic chemicals are grossly inadequate,
particularly in the context of consumer products. Thousands of
industrial chemicals were not tested before going on the market, and
federal law limits regulators’ ability to restrict the use of known
hazardous chemicals.
"Many
people assume that just because a product is on the market that it has
been tested and is safe,” said Puzio. “This is wrong. Many consumer
products contain chemicals known to have toxic effects or about which
we know very little.”
In
addition to exposing children to phthalates, polymer clays can release
a highly toxic hydrochloric acid gas when overheated in the oven. The
fumes are noxious, have a strong smell, and are emitted when the oven
temperature is set too high.
CoPIRG
urged the Consumer Product Safety Commission to place a moratorium on
the sale of polymer clay products until and unless their potential
health effects are fully investigated and phthalate exposure
eliminated. They called on manufacturers to drop their claims of
non-toxic status for the clays and to immediately reformulate them to
eliminate phthalate exposure. CoPIRG staff also advised parents to
prevent children’s exposure to these clays until the products are made
safe.
