Ökotest carcinogens found in felt pens

Ökotest found hazardous substances in felt-tip pens. When choosing pens, parents should be very careful about which toxic substances are contained.

(02.05.2010) The test magazine "Ökotest" has tested felt-tip pens of various manufacturers and found carcinogenic substances that could be harmful to health, especially for children. A total of 20 different sets of felt pens were tested. In four sets of pens Ökotest found in the shells carcinogenic substances such as cadmium or lead. The limits of the chemicals regulation were often exceeded in the kits. With these values, the pins should not actually be sold in the trade.

Children like to play and draw with felt-tip pens. Many children also like to chew on the pencils. It is all the more important that the pens do not contain harmful substances. But the results of the magazine "Ökotest" are quite dramatic. Because when chewing the pins, the substances are absorbed through the mouth. In twelve felt-tip brands, organohalogen compounds were found, which i.a. Can trigger allergies. In a pen set, even high levels of diethylene glycol were detected. Diethylene glycol can cause skin irritation and eye irritation. In another set of pens, the dye content aniline was found. Aniline is also suspected of causing cadmium in addition to cadmium lead.

Basically, parents should resort to pencils that have received the Ökotest rating "Very good". Most of these pin types are found in organic and alternative stores. In addition, you should make sure that the pins have been made in Europe. These pens got at least the grade "satisfactory". Attention: Children should not use felt-tip pens marked "permanent", "all-purpose marker" or "whiteboard". Such felt pens contain toxic solvents that are inhaled through the air. (Sb)

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Image: Claudia Hautumm, Pixelio.de.