Art and craft material use patterns by pre-school and elementary school children at home and school: a year long survey for refining exposure assessments

BACKGROUND: Use frequency and times are critical parameters for estimating realistic chemical exposures associated with the use of consumer products. Very limited information is available in the published literature for children’s use patterns of art and craft materials at home and school. OBJECTIVE: Conduct a year-long survey of art materials use at home and school by pre-school and elementary school children, teachers, and parents which can be used to refine chemical exposure assessments for these consumer products. METHODS: Parent and teacher online surveys were conducted on the daily use of markers and monthly use of fifteen additional art and craft materials. RESULTS: Daily marker use by elementary children was widespread at home and school (65% and 80%, respectively). On average, pre-school and elementary students used markers for 27 min per day, more than double daily home use. Adults used markers for longer durations relative to their children/students with teachers reporting the highest average daily usage time. School use of general art materials exceeded home use for both age groups, with elementary children using art materials more frequently than their pre-school counterparts. Examples of how these data can be used to refine exposure estimates are provided. SIGNIFICANCE: Accurate art material usage data contributes to refined estimates of chemical exposure for these consumer products. IMPACT STATEMENT: A year-long online survey was conducted which measured daily frequency and duration use for markers and comparable monthly use of other art materials for pre-school and elementary school children, their parents and teachers. Such use information is critical for estimating chemical exposures associated with this class of consumer products.