The Barnes Firm

Asbestos Found in Crayons, Kids’ Toys

• November 22, 2016
• Sandy

LOS ANGELES – Asbestos fibers, known to cause deadly diseases, were recently discovered in certain crayons and powder from a children’s fingerprint kit. The discovery alarmed environmental and health advocates because the fibers are known to cause lung diseases.

According to the EWG Action Fund, two government-certified laboratories ran tests on children’s toys. The results were surprising. Four brands of children’s crayons and two kids’ crime scene fingerprint kits contained deadly asbestos fibers. The EWG Action Fund said the crayons were marketed under popular names such as Mickey Mouse, Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Los Angeles mesothelioma lawyers at The Barnes Firm say asbestos is particularly dangerous because symptoms from exposure don’t immediately appear.

“It can take up to 30 years to start seeing symptoms from an asbestos exposure that happened in Los Angeles,” mesothelioma attorney John Sheehan said. “Although many American companies have phased out asbestos usage, other nations continue to use asbestos on a daily basis.”

All of the toys found to be contaminated with asbestos were reported to be made in China. Federal health authorities have known since 2000 that crayons and other toys can contain asbestos, according to health advocates. The Consumer Product Safety Commission conducted its own study on toys and concluded the risk of exposure was “extremely low.” The commission did however recommend that crayons not contain asbestos fibers, as a precaution.

“A common misconception is that asbestos is illegal,” Sheehan said. “It was banned in 1989 but the ban was lifted after just two years.”

Some states, like Washington State, have made efforts to ban asbestos from certain products like brake pads. However, there are few regulations preventing asbestos use in toys.

The brands the EWG Action Fund found to contain asbestos include:

-Disney Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Crayons

-Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Crayons

-Saban’s Power Rangers Super Megaforce Crayons

-EduScience Deluxe Forensics Lab Kit

-Inside Intelligence Secret Spy Kit

An estimated 15,000 Americans are killed every year as a direct result of asbestos exposure. If you or your family member believes their illness is the result of asbestos exposure, contact our Los Angeles mesothelioma lawyers today.

The Barnes Firm 1-(800) 800-0000