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(July 12, 2015). Asbestos even in small quantities can cause cancer and other lethal diseases. A non-profit organization, Asbestos Nation, conducted tests on crayons and children’s toys and found asbestos fibers in the following crayons and toys:
Crayons: Amscan Crayons by Amscan; Disney Mickey Mouse Clubhouse by Greenbrier International, Inc; Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Crayons, by MII Inc.; Saban’s Power Rangers Super Megaforce by Greenbrier International, Inc.
Crime Lab Kits: EduScience Deluxe Forensics Lab Kit, black fingerprint powder, by Toys”R”Us; Inside Intelligence Secret Spy kit, white fingerprint powder by Buy-Rite.
According to Asbestos Nation contaminated crayons could release microscopic asbestos fibers as children use them. By age 10, the typical American child wears down 730 crayons according to statistics from the largest manufacturer of crayons. In addition, children sometimes eat crayons. Experts are divided on whether eating asbestos-contaminated crayons is a health hazard as the asbestos fibers would be encapsulated in the crayon and not exposed directly to the lungs and ultimately expelled from the body.
In the case of the crime scene kits, it appears that the exposure could be greater than the crayons because children and adults could inhale airborne asbestos fibers contained in the fingerprint powder as it is used during the use of the crime scene kit. The EduScience Deluxe Forensics Lab Kit states in its instructions: “Put a small amount of dusting powder on the brush, use the blower to blow on the brush gently and then run the brush softly over the fingerprinted spot. Use the blower to blow off excess powder on top.” If these instructions are followed, the powder would potentially be exposed to all children and adults in the vicinity. There is no indication in the instructions or product box that there may be asbestos contained in the fingerprint powder. Individuals exposed to and who inhale asbestos fibers do not have immediate symptoms. The human body is unable to expel the asbestos and it remains in the lungs and other organs and causes death decades later when the disease manifests itself.
If children are exposed when young, there is more time for asbestos-related illness to develop later in life. The asbestos in the crayons and fingerprint powder are likely from the talc used as a binding agent. Asbestos is often found alongside talc deposits. The tested crayons and crime scene kits were purchased between February and May 2015 at Party City and Dollar Tree in California and online at Amazon.com and ToysRUs.com. There is no indication that the retailers were aware of the contamination with asbestos and the products have since been removed from store shelves. It would not be a bad idea however to check to insure your children and children of family and friends, are not playing with the above crayons or fingerprint powder purchased before the voluntary withdrawal of the product from the market.
Most Americans who die from asbestos-related disease are adults exposed to asbestos on the job. A minority of the cases result from exposure of children or as spouses of workers exposed on the job. Some cases are caused by exposure at home by parents to their children when hugging or a spouse exposed while doing the laundry to work clothes. There are no studies regarding exposure to asbestos because of playing with crayons but asbestos does not manifest itself for decades thus many do not make the link between exposure and symptoms and death.
There are an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 Americans deaths caused by exposure to asbestos each year. Because of their longer life span, children exposed to asbestos may be at greater risk than adults exposed to asbestos in dying from the disease. There is no indication that children were inherently more susceptible to asbestos-caused diseases than adults.
For further information visit the Asbestos Nation website at: Asbestos Nation Website .
If you or a family member has been exposed to asbestos at work and has being diagnosed with mesothelioma or other form of cancer, you can contact Attorney John M. Pinho at 1-800-311-3020 for a free consultation regarding your rights. Mr. Pinho is Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Workers Compensation Attorney.
Lea este artículo en espanol: Asbesto en lapices y en juegos infantiles