A Caution to Parents About PVC School Supplies

Having raised children myself, reading this recent Discovery.com article about the high phthalate content in PVC materials in school binders, backpacks and other plastic items used by our kids every day sends out big warning signals. Phthalates are used to soften plastics. Many toys and other items with phthalates were banned in Canada, the US and EU but the product continues to be used in the production of school supplies and clothing.

"Vinyl lunchboxes, backpacks and even 3-ring binders were among the 75 percent of supplies tested by an independent laboratory for the CHEJ that were found to have elevated levels of the endocrine disruptors. Research has linked phthalates, which are used to soften plastic, to birth defects, obesity, asthma and infertility, among other ailments. Some were banned in toys in 2008."  news.discovery.com/

It's buyer beware, especially since many products do not list phthalates in the contents labels. Phthalates are also found in food wrap, vinyl lunch boxes, modelling clays,thermoses and water bottles, office supplies, shiny rain gear, electronics and plastic eating utensils. If you sew things for your kiddies or for crafts be sure to ask for contents info from fabric suppliers, too.

For more info check out this pdf publication produced by the Center for Health, Environment and Justice. It also contains a green list of safe products, how to determine what has PVC content and related data and info. Well worth spending a few minutes to read.

Update Dec 2014: This website notes it's best to avoid microwaving foods in plastic, and avoiding using items with scented products "as much as possible, including air fresheners, and dryer sheets, and not using recyclable plastics labeled as 3, 6, or 7". 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/12/141210140823.htm

Wow...Life kind of gets in the way of one's plans. It's been months since I posted to this blog (which no one reads anyway).



Lots has happened in the meantime. I'm studying for a Class 2 drivers license. Want to get work as a bus driver. Vancouver Transit has community shuttle buses that scoot around the local neighbourhoods. It's shift work, the pay and benefits are very good. It will be interesting because I love driving. With the Olympics coming up in a few years it's an opportunity to meet people from all over the world, however briefly. And I do love showing off my city.


My youngest is off on another Australian adventure. She's becoming quite the seasoned traveller. She's jumped out of planes, rolled down a hill in a giant ball of water, walked on a glacier in New Zealand, learned to scuba dive in the Indian Ocean near Perth, got a pedicure in Hong Kong's airport, eaten bugs in the Outback, was peed on by Ned Kelly (an orphaned baby kangaroo), visited the Hobbit Village, explored her Maori heritage, walked around Uluru, and met some wonderful people from all over this little green blue planet.


This is Uluru, the navel of the Earth, a most ancient, sacred and mystical place. A great red rock in the middle of the Australian continent. 3 hours to walk around.


Made some money at the Annual Courtyard Sale at our housing co-operative. Got rid of a few household items as well as some beach bags, sunglass bags and crochet cellphone bags that I made for the event. I love my new sewing machine. It's a Pfaff, it's quiet, it doesn't skip stitches and it has a walking foot so that thin fabrics can be fed through evenly top and bottom to prevent puckering. I'd post a pic of the beach bags but sold them all but that's my incentive to make more. This pic is of the first cell bag I made. I was tired of trying to find the phone in the bottom of my purse so made this. It's bright, has a long strap to wear across my shoulder or to tie to the handle of my purse. The others are later variations. There are also small bags for cell, change, keys and a credit card. I've also experimented with crocheted sleeves for coffee cups. Saving the planet in my own little way, by eliminating those foam or paper sleeves. These are washable. More on crafts, sewing and life in Vancouver at a later date.