Asbestos found in children's toys, crayons

A recent investigation from the Environmental Working Group Action Fund found asbestos in several brands of crayons and in children's "crime-scene fingerprint kits." In a laboratory test of 28 boxes of crayons, asbestos was found in four boxes. As for the crime-scene kits, two out of 22 kits were found to contain asbestos, and some had a concentration level as high as 1 percent. While the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission regulates asbestos levels in many consumer products, crayons is not one of them.

On Wednesday, U.S. Senators Edward Markey and Dick Durbin called on retailers to voluntarily recall "toxic products," and said that they will work to determine what next steps ought to be taken. As of right now, it remains unclear whether the substance's existence in these products can actually be harmful, but, as Markey says, "Children's playtime should be filled with fun, not asbestos."

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that causes more than 100,000 deaths worldwide every year, the World Health Organization reports. While asbestos may be useful in manufacturing because of its resistance to heat, it can impact breathing and raise the risk of lung cancer.

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