Better Art Supplies for Budding Artists

If your child has a penchant for the visual arts, the last thing you want to do is discourage his or her emerging talents by scrooging on supplies. But be on the lookout for unhealthy materials. Many paints and markers contain neurotoxic solvents like turpentine and xylene. Some artist's pastels contain inhalable asbestos, a known human carcinogen. Companies, however, are not required by law to list ingredients on labels. So what do you look for?

The manufacturer-supported Art & Creative Materials Institute (ACMI) certifies a product with their AP label if it contains no ingredients found hazardous by a toxicologist. While weeding out extremely toxic, flammable or corrosive items, the AP label is not a fail-safe. The ACMI does not conduct independent tests, and has certified suspect items like the modeling clay Sculpey, which is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) containing diisononyl phthalate, banned from young children's toys in several European countries.

Monona Rossol, MS and MFA, industrial hygienist and president of Arts, Crafts & Theater Safety, recommends that parents demand disclosure of ingredients from companies for products that don't list them.

What You Can Do

*Pick products marketed for children that bear the AP label and contain no hazard and precautionary statements for grade six and under. For a list of products not allowed for use in grades K-6 in California, see oehha.org/education/art/getart.html.

*Look on the label for "conforms to ASTM D-4236" to ensure chronic health hazards are properly listed as required by law.

*Ask companies for product Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), which meet the Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements for listing health hazards, or see hazard.com/msds/index.php.

*Avoid volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulates, which can cause a host of health problems (see box).