Back to School Supplies: A Guide to Helping Parents Keep Poisonous Plastic School Supplies Off Your Shopping List!

It’s that time of year again!  As the summer wraps up and we prepare to send our kids back to school, many of us will receive a list of the necessary schools supplies for each student. Whether it’s Lunchboxes, Backpacks, Notebooks, Binders or Umbrellas, the choices are numerous.

To make this process easier, The Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) has put together a new Back to School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies which will help parents make healthy shopping choices.

The guide gives a very good overview of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) which is a type of plastic that can pose health risks when it is produced, when it used, and when it is disposed of.

PVC is unique among plastics because it contains dangerous chemical additives. These harmful chemicals include phthalates, lead, cadmium, and/or organotins, which can be toxic to your child’s health.

When PVC is manufactured or burned, it releases cancer causing dioxins that can harm the immune and reproductive systems.  These chemicals can leach out or evaporate into the air over time. Children are at risk from even small exposures to dioxins, so it’s important to purchase PVC-free school supplies.

A list of the most common back-to-school supplies made from PVC and suggestions of safer alternatives are provided in the guide.

Take a moment to download a free copy of the guide.