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WEDNESDAY, July 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Asbestos fibers have been found in crayons and other toys sold in the United States, according to a new report from an environmental health advocacy group.
The EWG (Environmental Working Group) Action Fund report released Wednesday indicated that the crayons were purchased between February and May of this year at two national chains — Party City and Dollar Tree — in a suburban county near San Francisco. The group said it ordered the two crime scene toys through Amazon.com and ToysRUs.com. EWG hired an independent company, Scientific Analytical Institute from Greensboro, N.C., to conduct transmission electron microscopy tests to look for asbestos.
In all, 28 crayon brands and 21 toy fingerprint kits were tested. The contaminated crayons included Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Crayons, Disney’s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jumbo Crayons, Saban’s Power Rangers Super Megaforce Jumbo Crayons, as well as crayons by Amscan, according to the report. Asbestos was also found in two crime lab toys: EduScience’s Deluxe Forensics Lab Kit and Inside Intelligence’s Secret Spy Kit. All positive results were reconfirmed by a second independent lab, EWG said.
A spokeswoman for Toys “R” Us, which distributes the EduScience Deluxe Forensics Lab Kit, responded to the report, saying customer safety is the company’s highest priority. “We require that every product we carry meets or exceeds all applicable state and federal laws, industry standards, codes and requirements. At this time, we are reviewing the referenced report, along with supplier test reports, to ensure full compliance to our strict safety standards,” Kathleen Waugh, vice president of corporate communications, told HealthDay.
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