For many families, the return to school is a time to prepare schoolbags, lunch boxes, water bottles, clothing, school supplies and everyday products. But alongside considerations such as price, durability and functionality, there is another factor that should also be taken into account: chemical safety.
To help parents, caregivers and children make more informed choices, the European platform NEMESIS for You, developed by NOVA National School of Public Health (NOVA NSPH) as part of the European NEMESIS project, has just made practical recommendations available to help reduce exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, or EDCs, in products associated with the return to school.
Endocrine disruptors are chemicals with the potential to interfere with the hormonal system. They may be present in different everyday products, and children are particularly vulnerable, as their bodies are still developing and their behaviours increase their contact with school objects, dust and surfaces.
The new guide explains that small decisions and simple everyday actions can help reduce exposure. Key recommendations include reusing materials that are still in good condition before buying new ones, prioritising durable, high-quality products, choosing stainless steel or glass lunch boxes and water bottles instead of plastic, washing new clothes before first use, and avoiding products with a strong chemical smell or a sticky feel.
The content also draws attention to specific materials. For sportswear, waterproof clothing or stain-resistant clothing, it is recommended to look for PFAS-free options. These are known as “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment and may interfere with the hormonal system. For arts and crafts materials, such as glues, paints, pens, modelling clays and modelling compounds, the recommendation is to choose products suitable for children, preferably water-based, without harsh solvents and with clear, informative labels.
The guide also reminds readers that, in the European Union, citizens have the right to ask manufacturers for information about the presence of substances of very high concern in certain products. The free Scan4Chem app can help with this process, allowing users to search for products and contact manufacturers to obtain further information about their composition.
This new content forms part of the NEMESIS for You platform’s mission to make information about endocrine disruptors clearer, more useful and applicable to everyday choices. The aim is to support simple, informed decisions that can help protect health, particularly that of children.
The content was developed based on a practical guide by the Portuguese organisation ZERO — Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável and the European LIFE ChemBee project.
NEMESIS is a project funded by the European Commission that brings together 13 partners from eight countries, combining expertise in toxicology, medicine, biology, environmental health and public health to better understand how endocrine disruptors may influence metabolism and human health.
Discover the recommendations for a safer return to school on the NEMESIS for You platform: https://nemesisforyou.eu/
