Sharpie pens and pencils

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. Seen by a doctor or nurse

   Made Oct 27, 2018 · , sent to the company Nov 5, 2018 · , published by CPSC Nov 20, 2018

   The product, in the report: sharpie alcohol based permanent maker fine line black

   I have been told by Duke University who tests ACMI products for the AP seal that their assumption of “normal use” for a Sharpie alcohol-based permanent marking pen is for one person drawing approximately 10 inches once per day. However, schools have noted the AP seal on the package and no definition of “normal use” is included on the package. My daughter’s school is using the product as a classroom art supply, to be used by up to 20 students in a session to draw art projects, polluting the air beyond normal use as was tested for in marginally ventilated classrooms (no cross ventilation present for example). When I called the Sharpie corp. customer service line I was told by three representatives that 20 5 year olds using the pens for art in a classroom is considered “normal use”, which is not true and apparently putting children at risk.

   Duke University testing staff sent the following to me. I see CPSC ran a test with them studying classroom use, but I don’t see the study listed on your website. What are your conclusions regarding classroom use safety per the study?

   My daughter, who only gets a headache when she is very ill, had a headache and burning eyes after being exposed to the pens in a Kindergarten classroom art project in September 2018 at White Oak Elementary School in Westlake Village. Another child also experienced burnings eyes at that time.

   Exposure Study Summary We evaluated solvent exposure to professional graphic artists who were using both solvent- containing spray fixatives and xylene-containing markers. The 8 hour time weighted average exposures to xylene to 15 artists using these markers ranged from 0.006 to 0.54 ppm. Only those artists who used solvent-containing aerosols had excessive symptoms of narcosis and mucous membrane irritation. In a second study done in conjunction with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), we evaluated exposures to white board marker solvents from use of markers containing methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) and n-butyl acetate (NBA). CPSC specifically chose the markers for these studies after reviewing generic formulations for whiteboard markers certified by ACMI. Two exposure studies were done in poorly ventilated (0.5 air changes per hour) rooms: an unventilated 230 m 3 room and a 237 m 3 ventilated classroom. Markers were used for 30 minutes. Samples were taken for 30 minutes at the breathing zone and for 3.5 hours at a background location, 4 m from the work area after marker use had ended. One, 3 or 4 users worked with markers in the unventilated room. 1, 2 or 4 users worked with markers in the ventilated school room. The dilutional ventilation equation was used to determine background exposures associated with use of these markers by 25 users. In the unventilated room, personal MIBK exposures during 30 minutes of use ranged from 0.87 to 1.75 ppm and background exposures ranged from 0.37-0.93 ppm depending on the number of users. For the n-butyl acetate component, personal exposures during 30 minutes of use ranged from 0.21-0.27 ppm and background exposures ranged from <0.06-0.23 ppm depending on the number of users. Using the dilutional ventilation equation to project exposures where there would be 25 users in an unventilated room, the expected maximum 4 hour average exposure would be 5.3 ppm for MIBK and 2.0 ppm for NBA. In a classroom setting the expected maximum 4 hour average exposure would be 4.1 ppm for MIBK and 1.6 ppm for NBA. Reference ([REDACTED]). See Pertinent Toxicological Issues: Solvent-Based Markers.

   Model

   sharpie permanent maker fine line black | Model #: 30051

   Serial number

   Item #: 507130 | Model #: 30051

   Bought from

   Office Depot or Office Max in California

   Bought

   Aug 1, 2018, about then

   Where

   Westlake Village, California: School

   Who was involved

   Age 5, Female

   The reporter’s relation to them

   My Child

   As this report names them

   Brand Sharpie, made or sold by Newell Rubbermaid Inc.

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Seen by Medical Professional

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources