Conforms to ASTM D4236

What is ASTM D-4236?

ASTM International, formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, is the global leader in the development of safety standards for consumer products. Their "D-4236" designation is meant to alert consumers to any chronic health hazards that may arise from the use of art-related supplies. In 1990, the Hazardous Art Materials Labeling Act (LHAMA) mandated that all such products must bear the ASTM D-4236 name on their labels. ASTM D-4236 is the standard practice for labeling art materials with chronic health hazards. The label "Conforms to ASTM D-4236" means that all potential hazardous ingredients in the art product have been clearly identified on the packaging.

Scope of ASTM D-4236

Products labeled with D-4236 include paste-like substances, glues, and tapes; water-based, oil-based, powder, and acrylic paints; paint thinners; crayons, markers, and colored pencils; flour-based, clay-based, oil-based, and polymer clays; ceramic glazes; and aprons.

Why is ASTM D-4236 important?

ASTM D-4236 helps ensure that only high-quality raw materials are used to produce bearings and other industrial products. These standards are highly valued throughout the plastics supply chain.

ASTM D-4236 describes the standard procedure for developing preventive labeling for art materials to provide chronic health hazard and preventive statements based on current scientific and medical knowledge.

Art supplies sold in the U.S. must include the printed phrase "Conforms to ASTM D-4236." This means that every potential hazardous component used to manufacture the product is listed on the packaging.

Some common art supply ingredients can cause allergic reactions or be dangerous if they come into contact with the skin or eyes. Others can cause respiratory issues if inhaled excessively.

To help people make responsible choices when selecting and using art supplies, the ASTM D-4236 standard requires these components to be listed on the packaging.

The related "Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act" requires art supplies packaging to bear warnings about any hazardous materials, such as "Flush eyes immediately if product gets into eyes."

Even if the art supplies in question do not contain potentially hazardous materials, they must still carry the "Conforms to ASTM D-4236" label. This assures consumers that the art product they are considering has undergone a thorough review to check for hazardous materials.

What are the requirements of ASTM D-4236?

(1) The term "art materials or art materials products" refers to any substance sold or represented by a producer or repacker for use in the creation of any visual or graphic art works in any medium at any stage. The term does not include economic poisons governed by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act [7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.] or drugs, devices, or cosmetics governed by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.].

(2) Applies to art materials intended for use by any age group.

(3) Each producer or repacker of art materials shall provide written standards for determining whether an art material has the potential to cause chronic adverse health effects. Each producer or repacker is responsible for submitting these standards to the committee, along with a list of art materials requiring hazard warning labels according to this section.

(4) At the request of the committee, the producer or repacker of art materials shall submit product formulations and the standards used to determine whether the art material or its ingredients may cause chronic adverse health effects.

(5) All art materials requiring long-term hazard labels under this section must include the name and address of the art material producer or repacker on the label, along with an appropriate phone number and a statement indicating that such materials are not suitable for children.

(6) If the art material producer or repacker becomes aware of any new significant information regarding the hazards of art materials or methods of mitigating such hazards, this new information must be incorporated into the labels of such materials manufactured within 12 months of discovery.

(7) Toxicologists, when determining whether an art material has the potential to cause chronic adverse health effects (including carcinogenicity or potential carcinogenicity), should consider opinions from regulatory agencies and scientific organizations.