SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Many of California's 4.1 million public school childen are being exposed to toxic art materials that may cause cancer, lung damage and other health problems, researchers said Wednesday.
A survey of 39 school districts by the California Public Interest Research Group found that 25 are using paint, cements, thinners, clays, glazes and dyes containing known toxic substances.
'Teachers have no way to tell that these products contain hazardous substances -- there's no list of ingredients or precautionary labeling,' Bob Shireman, a CalPRG spokesman, said. 'Without proper labeling, teachers can't choose the safest products.'
The poisonous substances identified in many art supplies include hexane, methylene chloride and other solvents that have been linked to damage of the lungs and central nervous system. Such suspected cancer-causing substances as lead, formaldehyde and cadmium also have been found in classroom materials, the study said.
CalPIRG, the state PTA and the Department of Health Services have asked Gov. George Deukmejian to sign into law two measures that would provide stricter labeling of school materials.
One bill requires precautionary labeling on toxic art supplies and the other prohibits school districts from purchasing hazardous art supplies for kindergarten through sixth grade, based on a list to be supplied by the Department of Health Services.
