New Law Takes Effect For Labeling Hazardous Art Materials

On November 18, 1990, a new law takes effect requiring hazardous art and craft materials to be labeled. The law requires labels for all art and craft materials determined to present chronic long-term health hazards such as cancer. Most art materials already are voluntarily labeled for such hazards, but the new law makes such labeling mandatory. Elementary schools are advised not to purchase potentially hazardous art or craft materials for their students in kindergarten through the sixth grade.

Congress required the new labeling standard in the "Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act." The law directs the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to set up guidelines for determining whether art and craft materials present chronic long-term health hazards. The law mandates a voluntary standard -- ASTM D-4236-88 -- as a mandatory labeling standard for art and craft materials. CPSC is the Federal agency responsible for product safety. Some 15,000 products fall within the Commission's jurisdiction and each year these products are involved in an estimated 30 million injuries and 22,000 deaths. The Commission's mission is to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products.

Under the new labeling law, art and craft materials that present a chronic hazard will have to be labeled. These products include solvents, spray paints, silk-screen inks, adhesives, and any other substance marketed or represented as suitable for use in any phase of the creation of any work of visual or graphic art of any medium. The labeling for chronic hazards is in addition to labeling for acute hazards, such as flammability or irritation, and other requirements of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act.

Since elementary school children up through the 6th grade are not likely to follow labels, the CPSC recommends that children should not use hazardous art materials. Substitute art materials exist to replace the most hazardous materials used in elementary schools. For example, students should use water-based adhesives instead of extremely flammable rubber cement. The Commission has issued a safety alert entitled "CPSC Promotes Safety Labeling For Art and Craft Materials." Consumers can get a free copy of this safety alert by sending a postcard to CPSC, Washington, D.C. 20207.