Your toddler is halfway through colouring a dinosaur when you notice the crayon in her mouth instead of her hand. Every parent has seen it. That instinct to check what’s in the box got a jolt a few years ago, when tests in the United States found asbestos in some children’s crayons. The reassuring part: the culprit is a specific, avoidable problem, and there’s one small mark on the packaging that tells you a crayon has been checked.
Some cheap, unbranded crayons have tested positive for asbestos, from contaminated talc used as a binder. The fix is simple: buy crayons carrying the ACMI “AP” non-toxic seal, and skip no-name crayons from discount bins.
Trusted brands like Crayola have repeatedly tested asbestos-free. The risk sits with unbranded, uncertified products.
What was found
In tests reported in the United States, in 2015 and again in 2018, a small number of children’s crayons were found to contain asbestos fibres. The 2018 report by the US PIRG Education Fund flagged a Playskool-branded set bought at a discount store, and earlier testing had found trace fibres in some licensed-character crayons. Crucially, well-known brands tested in the same rounds, including Crayola and Rose Art, came back asbestos-free.
Asbestos matters because it’s a known carcinogen: inhaled or swallowed fibres are linked to lung cancer and mesothelioma. Young children chew and nibble crayons, so any contamination is worth taking seriously.
Why asbestos ends up in a crayon
It isn’t added on purpose. Crayon makers use talc as a binder to help the wax hold its shape, and talc is mined from the ground near where asbestos naturally occurs. If the talc isn’t carefully sourced and purified, it can carry trace asbestos fibres into the finished crayon. Reputable manufacturers purify their talc or avoid the risk, so brand and certification matter: this is a quality-control failure, and it clusters in the cheapest, least-regulated products.
The mark to look for: the AP seal
The single most useful thing you can do is check for the ACMI seal. The Art and Creative Materials Institute certifies art supplies, and its “AP” (Approved Product) seal means the product has been evaluated by a toxicologist and certified non-toxic, with no materials in quantities that could harm a child. None of the crayons that tested positive for asbestos carried this seal.
You may also see a “CL” (Cautionary Labelling) seal on some art materials, which means the product is safe when used as directed but needs care, more relevant for older children’s materials than crayons. For young children, look for the plain AP seal.
How to shop safely
- Look for the AP non-toxic seal on the box, from the ACMI. It’s the clearest signal a crayon is safe.
- Buy established brands. The major names have been tested repeatedly and come back clean. This is one area where a known brand is worth it.
- Be wary of no-name discount crayons, party-favour sets and cheap licensed-character crayons from bargain bins, which is where the contaminated products have turned up.
- Check for a safety standard. Beyond the AP seal, look for conformity marks such as the European EN 71 toy-safety standard.
- Watch for very young children who mouth crayons. Choose chunky, age-appropriate crayons and supervise, and keep crayons away from babies who put everything in their mouths.
The wider point on art supplies
The AP seal covers more than crayons. It applies to paints, markers, modelling clay, glue and other art materials, so it’s a good habit to look for it across the craft cupboard. Markers can carry solvents, cheap paints have their own contamination issues, and some modelling doughs contain wheat, worth knowing if you’re already watching for food allergy and anaphylaxis in children. Buying certified, age-appropriate supplies from trusted brands covers most of the risk in one move.
While you’re doing that sweep of the craft corner, it’s worth casting an eye over the rest of the flat too. The hazards that send children to hospital in Singapore are usually structural instead of chemical: window and fall safety at home deserves a check in any HDB unit with a climbing toddler, and ceiling fan safety matters the moment your child starts bouncing on the bed.
Common questions
Is there asbestos in crayons?
Some cheap, unbranded crayons have tested positive for asbestos, from contaminated talc used as a binder. Established brands such as Crayola have repeatedly tested asbestos-free. Buying certified crayons avoids the risk.
How do I know if crayons are safe?
Look for the ACMI “AP” (Approved Product) non-toxic seal on the box. It means the product has been certified non-toxic by a toxicologist. None of the crayons that tested positive for asbestos carried it.
Why do some crayons contain asbestos?
Not deliberately. Crayons use talc as a binder, and talc mined near asbestos deposits can carry trace fibres if it isn’t carefully sourced and purified. It’s a quality failure found mostly in the cheapest products.
Are Crayola crayons safe?
Crayola crayons have repeatedly tested asbestos-free and carry non-toxic certification. Established, certified brands are the safe choice.
What’s the AP seal?
The Approved Product seal from the Art and Creative Materials Institute, certifying that an art material is non-toxic. Look for it on crayons, paints, markers and clay.
Next time you’re in the stationery aisle
Asbestos in crayons is real, and it has shown up in cheap, uncertified, unbranded sets. Turn the box over, find the ACMI AP non-toxic seal, and put the no-name bargain-bin pack back on the shelf. It costs you ten seconds and a couple of dollars more, and for a child who still treats every crayon as a snack, that’s an easy trade.
More on keeping children safe
Findings are from US PIRG Education Fund and Environmental Working Group testing reports, with certification guidance from the Art and Creative Materials Institute. Check current product certifications when buying.
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