[Grenoble (Isère) 158 200 hab.] With the Ecological Transition Agency (Ademe), the Scientific and Technical Building Center (CSTB), and the specialized design office Medieco, Grenoble conducted a study on toxic fumes from school supplies. Released in January 2021, the results made it review its overall specifications for all schools, introducing a health clause on these products in daily contact with schoolchildren.
“Children inhale twice as much air as adults in proportion to their body mass, while having a lower capacity to eliminate toxic substances”, specifies Christine Garnier, deputy mayor of Grenoble, in charge of schools. Strangely enough, there are no national regulations or European directives on this material, unlike toys.
Emanations disparates
On 52 products accessible in supermarkets, selected for the study, the safety data sheets were not always available. In addition, “most of the certificates of conformity provided by the manufacturers were in contradiction with the test results”, underlines the Trouss’air study.
Among the supplies, 34 were subject to characterization of pollutants. Within each category, there are often large disparities in emanations, from low to very high. This is the case for the seven sticks of glue analyzed, but also for markers, pens or erasable markers. On six paints (gouaches and finger) tested, we even find aromatic hydrocarbons, including those labeled ACMI AP (American label). For the papers, the emanations ranged from simple to double.
If the impact of these supplies on the quality of indoor air remains “very low”, including with a deficient ventilation air flow, the authors of the study specify that these products are located near the respiratory tract when using them. As a result, “actual exposure [aux substances toxiques] has not been quantified.
Reduced bill
As a precautionary measure, it is a question of drying up this source of pollution among others (furniture, renovation materials and cleaning products). The city of Grenoble awarded a three-year contract in which air quality was one of the selection criteria, alongside technical, environmental and budgetary values. Only two companies responded to the call for tenders out of seven consulted – those informed of the process four years earlier.
In each product category, one to four low-emissivity references were offered. A progression approach is included in the specifications, including a half-yearly meeting. Another interesting benefit of the approach: the low-emission products have made it possible to reduce the bill by 10%. The study was highlighted by the Ademe guide “Choosing school supplies without risk to health”.
Contacts : Christine Garner, deputy mayor, [email protected]; Suzanne Deoux, Director of Medieco, [email protected]
Labels to improve
One of the lessons of the Trouss’air study is the difficulty of access to quality information on products. The various labels existing on the French market for school supplies (“European Ecolabel”, “NF Environment”, “Blue Angel” and “White Swan”) do not give an overall view of emissions of volatile substances. “Even if the choice of a product bearing a label remains preferable”, concedes Suzanne Déoux, director of the study and of the Medieco cabinet. “The health clauses that a community chooses to impose on itself to limit the exposure of children in its schools could inspire obligations imposed on manufacturers to remove certain substances or at least to mention them”, believes Suzanne Déoux.
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