Yasmina Kattou, edited by Laura Laplaud, with AFP 1:57 p.m., July 7, 2022
The National Health Security Agency has warned of the dangerousness of certain chemicals present in the composition of school supplies.
The authorities are calling for stricter rules since today, there are no specific regulations to regulate the composition or manufacture of school supplies.
French health authorities recommended Thursday to apply stricter rules on school supplies, such as glues and gums, regretting a great vagueness as to the presence of components potentially dangerous to health.
It would be necessary "to apply to school supplies the regulations relating to the safety of toys", the latter being much more restrictive, judges in a press release the National Health Security Agency (Anses).
More or less serious risks
Indeed, at present, "neither in France nor in Europe, school supplies are not covered by specific regulations making it possible to regulate their composition, their manufacture or their use to ensure their harmlessness", regrets the 'agency.
However, children - and moreover the adults present in the classroom - are continuously exposed to these objects, of which they can inhale certain components, or even ingest them by biting their pens, for example.
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If ANSES communicates on the subject, it is because it has just made public a work which assesses the presence of these elements potentially harmful to health.
take more precautions
Based on several studies, including one carried out by the Danish health authorities, it notes that some of these components are frequently identified.
This is the case, for example, of phthalates, chemical compounds often present in gums.
However, ANSES notes that few studies have looked into the subject.
They also concern the sole question of the presence of these components and, on the whole, do not say to what extent the health of the pupils is really threatened.
But, as a precaution, the agency considers it necessary to take more precautions.
In addition to calling for more restrictive legislation, she is now asking manufacturers to avoid selling scented products to avoid encouraging chewing.