#55 Fatal ConveniencesTM: Crayons: Safe or Toxic?
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Everyone has fond childhood memories revolving around crayons. These colorful waxy sticks represent hours of creative fun. I was an avid coloring book fan, and I can\\u2019t even tell you how many boxes of crayons I went through as a kid. No one wants to have these cherished memories tainted, but are crayons safe or toxic? And what are they doing to our planet?
Welcome to\\xa0Fatal Conveniences\\u2122
This is a bite-sized segment that parallels\\xa0The Darin Olien Show. In these segments, we get into society\'s Fatal Conveniences\\u2122. I define these as the things we may be doing because the world we live in makes us believe we have to. These things save us time and trick us into thinking they\'re actually good for us. But it\'s those same things that are breaking down our health, and the health of the environment around us.
I\'ve spent most of my adult life obsessively researching these "conveniences." On every show, I pick one topic, and we dive into it. My goal is to make you more aware of these traps so that you can push back on them. Remember, it starts with you and the choices you make.\\xa0
So, if you\'re willing to look at your world from a different perspective and make little tweaks that amount to big changes, then this segment is for you.
Between 45,000 and 75,000 lbs of broken crayons are discarded in US landfills every year.
This one is tough for me, because I really don\\u2019t want to bash crayons. I love crayons! We all did. And I\\u2019m sure if you have kids, you have multiple boxes of these colorful things all over the house. So I\\u2019ll just cut to the chase. Crayons consist of paraffin, which is a petroleum, crude oil by-product. And lab tests show some crayon brands are full of toxins like lead and even asbestos.\\xa0
In this segment, I break down the uncomfortable truths about this kid-favorite drawing tool. It\\u2019s not just our kids we need to worry about. Unfortunately, these things are ending up in our landfills and waterways. But it\\u2019s not all bad news. Some brands are safer than others. Like most things, the cheaper it is, the more toxic it probably is. Thankfully, there are plenty of environmentally friendly, safe alternatives. And I\\u2019ll be sure to give you plenty of resources to find those as well. So don\\u2019t worry guys, you don\\u2019t have to hide those coloring books. Let\\u2019s just make a conscious effort to be aware of what\\u2019s in our kids\\u2019 favorite crafting supplies.
Other info in this segment:
- The history of Crayons
- The history of Crayola
- Why are these toxins allowed in kid products?\\xa0
- Crayons and the planet
- Safe alternatives
Links & Resources:
Major Brands of Crayons Contain Asbestos\\xa0
Warning After Asbestos Found in Crayons
Toys R\\u2019 Us and Other Retailers Remove Crayons
The Efforts Crayola is Making to Improve
Crazy Crayons - The National Crayon Recycling Program
The Best Non-Toxic Crayons for Your Kids
Netflix\\u2019 Down To Earth\\u2019 Official Trailer
Download my amazing new lifestyle app and get 3 days free at\\xa0121Tribe.com
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