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more resources

• Air Pollution and Children's Health
• Child-Specific Reference Doses (chRDs)
• Children's Health Resources from the Toxics Directory
• East Bay Children's Respiratory Health Study

resources for kids and educators

• CEEIN
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• Green California Schools Summit

 

Children's Health at OEHHA

The California Education Code Section 32064 prohibits schools from ordering or purchasing any product that contains toxic or carcinogenic substances for use in grades K-6. The law also restricts the purchase of such products in grades 7-12, allowing the use only if the product bears a label informing the user of the presence of hazardous ingredients, the potential health effects, and instructions for the safe use. This restriction applies whether or not the product is included on the list of unacceptable art and crafts supplies.

Section 32066 of the Education Code requires that OEHHA develop a list of art and crafts materials "which cannot be purchased or ordered" for use in kindergarten and grades one through six.

Accordingly, we are providing you with a list of unacceptable products -- those which "cannot be purchased." The products are those listed among the Arts and Creative Materials Institute's (ACMI) determinations of products that require a "Caution Label," dated September 29, 2009. Additionally, we include products that have been recalled as reported by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

• Art and Craft Materials In Schools: Guidelines for Purchasing and Safe Use
• Art Smarts! Tips for the Safe Use of Art and Craft Materials (pdf)
• List of Hazardous Art and Craft Materials
  that Can Not be Purchased for Use in Grades K- 6
  (October 2014)      
• Chemicals in Children's Markers
  [06/02/14]
• California Department of Education - Visual and Performing Arts
• Tools for Schools Program (USEPA)
  Indoor air quality in schools
• CalMax
  a free source of used materials. By reusing materials, we conserve energy, resources, and landfill space, while reducing disposal, green house gas emissions, and purchasing costs.

The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is responsible for enforcing California's law to protect children and adults from exposure to lead in jewelry.1
The law restricts the amount of lead in jewelry by identifying what materials may be used, as well as establishing lead concentration thresholds that may not be exceeded. This Fact Sheet has been developed to help consumers and people in the jewelry industry understand the law and its requirements.