Health warning in school shopping: Be careful when choosing stationery supplies.

Dr. Mine Başıbüyük, a pediatric health and disease specialist from Medipol Health Group, provided important warnings to families shopping for stationery about what they should pay attention to in order to protect their children’s health.

With only a few days left until schools open, families have started to procure the necessary stationery supplies for their children. However, there are significant health risks that need to be considered during this shopping process. Dr. Mine Başıbüyük, a pediatric health and disease specialist at Medipol Health Group, listed the key points to consider when choosing stationery products.

“Avoid harmful substances”

Dr. Mine Başıbüyük pointed out that harmful substances such as phthalates, benzene, and lead found in stationery materials can have serious negative effects on children’s health. “These toxic substances can lead to hormonal disorders, carcinogenic effects, and serious problems in the nervous system. It is advisable to prefer products that have the CE mark or meet EN71 safety standards, especially for pencils, crayons, glues, erasers, and coated products, as this reduces risks. Additionally, plastic products such as water bottles and pencil cases should not contain chemicals like phthalates and Bisphenol A (BPA), as these substances can also lead to hormonal disorders and other health issues,” she stated.

Pay attention to allergic reactions and skin health

Dr. Başıbüyük indicated that some stationery materials may contain substances that can cause allergic reactions, such as perfumes and colored paints. “To protect children’s skin health, hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested products should be preferred,” she noted.

Age appropriateness and ergonomic design are important

Dr. Başıbüyük emphasized the importance of age appropriateness when selecting stationery products for young children, stating, “Stationery items containing small parts can pose a choking hazard for young children. Therefore, age-appropriate products should be preferred. Attention should be paid to the age group recommendations on product packaging. Products such as backpacks, pencil cases, and desks that children will use should be ergonomic, as this is crucial for spine health. The weight of the bag should not exceed 10% of the child’s weight and must fit well on their back. Heavy bags, improperly carried backpacks, or non-ergonomic working environments can lead to postural disorders and long-term spine and skeletal system issues in children.”

Ease of use provides benefits for long-term use

Stating that products should be easy to use, especially for hand and wrist health, Dr. Başıbüyük said, “The ergonomic design of stationery materials is important for hand and wrist health, especially during long-term use. Features such as the thickness of pencils, the softness of erasers, and the portability of other materials are among the points to consider.”

“Choose eco-friendly products”

Dr. Başıbüyük emphasized that stationery products made from recyclable or biodegradable materials should be preferred to instill environmental awareness in children. “To instill environmental awareness in children, stationery products made from recyclable or biodegradable materials can be preferred. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified products can be chosen for paper products. Furthermore, it should be noted that these materials generally contain fewer chemicals and pose less harm to children’s health,” she added.

Dr. Başıbüyük stated that families can select safer and healthier stationery materials for their children by considering these important health tips, wishing all students a healthy and successful school year.