Parent’s beware: Consumer groups are reporting that the popular Playskool Crayons could contain asbestos.
“The good news is that when we were testing three years ago, all sorts of brands came back with asbestos,” U.S. Public Interest Research Group toxics director Kara Cook-Schultz told CBS News. “Now it’s just this one.”
According to the United States Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, a green crayon that was purchased as a part of a 36-count pack, at Dollar Tree, tested positive for tremolite, which is a type of asbestos. A spokesman for Dollar Tree told People Magazine in a statement that the company tests all of its products and they have all passed safety and legal standards.
“The safety of our customers and associates is our top priority,” the statement read. “Our Company utilizes a very stringent and independent testing program to ensure our supplies products meet or exceed all safety and legal standards. We are aware of the report and have since re-verified that each of the listed products successfully passed inspection and testing.”
Toy giant, Hasbro, who owns Playskool Crayons, also said in a statement to People Magazine that, “Product and children’s safety are top priorities for Hasbro. We are conducting a thorough investigation into these claims, including working with Leap Year, the licensee of the product.”
According to the Legislative Attorney for the Environmental Working Group, Melanie Benesh, that it is “very unlikely” that manufacturers “are actually intentionally adding asbestos to their crayons. More likely, there is another ingredient that they use that grows or is mined in places where asbestos also tends to be found and it contaminates the product.”
Before you buy, check updates on the Hasbro websites. If you have concerns that your child may have been exposed to asbestos, contact your healthcare professional immediately.
