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Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies
Healthy Child
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Our friends at CHEJ have just published a great guide to help you send your kids off to school PVC-free! The guide lists the most common back-to-school supplies made out of polyvinyl chloride (PVC or vinyl) plastic and safer PVC-free alternatives.
Why Shop for PVC-Free School Supplies?
Children’s school supplies, such as lunchboxes, backpacks and binders, are often made out of PVC – a plastic that is dangerous to our health and the environment. The production of PVC involves the use of cancer-causing chemicals that contaminate the air and water of surrounding communities. When PVC is manufactured or burned, numerous dioxins are formed and released, a highly toxic group of chemicals that can cause cancer, harm the immune and reproductive systems. Our bodies are contaminated with these and other chemicals released during the PVC lifecycle. This may pose irreversible life-long health threats.
PVC is unique from most plastics because it contains toxic additives used to soften or stabilize it. These harmful chemicals include phthalates, lead, cadmium, and/or organotins, which may be toxic to your child’s health. They can leach out or evaporate into the air over time posing unnecessary dangers to children. Children are at risk from even small exposures to these toxic chemicals. That’s why it’s especially important to purchase PVC-free school supplies.
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Posted by Thermal Paper on 10/21/2008 at 05:04 AM
By choosing non-PVC supplies maybe our kids will understand the importance of recycling and the danger that plastic represents for the nature. I use recycled thermal paper and I try to do this with every type of office supply I need.