Mesothelioma-causing Asbestos Found in Crayola Crayons

Crayola crayons in the United States are at the center of a health alert after claims that they contain traces of asbestos.

Tests on the Crayola product, used in millions of homes, are understood to have found small amounts of the cancer-causing chemical - asbestos. The makers deny they pose a health risk to children.

"We cannot order crayons containing these fibers off the market because we haven’t documented a danger to children." - [Ronald Medford, U.S. CPSC]

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission subsequently confirmed the presence of asbestos in its own tests. It concluded there were no risks to consumers but asked the companies to change the formula.

The CPSC’s assistant executive director of hazards identification, Ronald Medford, said: ‘We cannot order crayons containing these fibers off the market because we haven’t documented a danger to children."

Unbelievable! - ST