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10273451 
Technical Report 
CPSC staff report on asbestos fibers in children's crayons 
Saltzman, LE; Hatlelid, KM 
2000 
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission 
Washington, DC 
English 
On May 23, 2000, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported finding asbestos in three major
brands of crayons, Crayola, made by Binney and Smith; Prang, made by Dixon Ticonderoga, and Rose Art. The reported asbestos was believed to be found in the talc used by the crayon
manufacturers as a binding agent. The specific asbestos minerals reported by the laboratories
contracted by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, tremolite, chrysotile, and anthophyllite, were
identified in some of the crayons in concentrations ranging from 0.03% to 2.86% by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Asbestos was not identified in any of the tests conducted by the three crayon manufacturers.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff examined crayons from
several different boxes from the three companies to determine whether asbestos was present,
evaluated the potential for exposure to children, and evaluated the potential risk.
Trace amounts of anthophyllite asbestos and larger amounts of other fibers (transitional
fibers) were found in Crayola and Prang crayons by polarized light microscopy (PLM). The
concentrations of asbestos ranged from below the limit of detection to 0.03%. The concentrations
of transitional fibers ranged from below the limit of detection to 1.25%. The Rose Art crayons
did not contain any asbestos or transitional fibers.
Based on the results of the testing and evaluation, the staff concludes that the risk a child
would be exposed to the fibers through inhalation or ingestion of crayons containing asbestos
and transitional fibers is extremely low. No fibers were found in the air during a simulation of a
child vigorously coloring with a crayon for half an hour The risk of exposure by eating crayons
is also extremely low because the fibers are imbedded in the crayon wax and will pass through
the child's body.
Although CPSC staff determined that the risk is extremely low, the staff believes that as a
precaution, crayons should not contain these fibers. CPSC staff asked the industry to reformulate crayons using substitute ingredients. Binney and Smith and Dixon Ticonderoga agreed to reformulate within a year to eliminate talc. Rose Art indicated that they stopped using talc in 90% of their crayons about 15 months ago and will reformulate the remaining small percentage of crayons made with talc.
CPSC will continue to monitor children's crayons to ensure they do not present a hazard.