Earth Week Toxic Product Testing - Wednesday, April 23
This year BCC Student Science Association is teaming up with the BCC Early Learning Family and Childcare Center (ELFCC) and the Washington Toxics Coalition to give you the chance to test for toxics in common household items - including toys, books, cushions, clothing, jewelry, electronics, dishware, and more.
Anyone is welcome to participate by bringing in items you would like to have tested! Sign-up is not required, although if there are people waiting we will have to limit each person to no more than two items.
When
The service will be available on Wednesday, April 23 in the cafeteria from about 11:30-2:00, and at the childcare center for children and parents from about 3:30 to 5:00pm. Jim Dawson of the Washington Toxics Coalition will be speaking on this topic prior to the testing from 10:30-11:20 in C130.
Guidelines for what to bring
The XRF analyzer can safely and nondestructively test nearly any item. This includes toys, furniture, clothing, ceramics, electronics, jewelry, etc. However, the XRF does not work on liquids and should not be used to test organic material (e.g., food, pets).
How is it measured - the handheld XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence Analyzer)
The XRF Analyzer uses x-ray fluorescence to detect chemical elements such as lead, cadmium, bromine (indicating the presence of brominated flame retardants or PBDEs), and chlorine (indicating the presence of PVC/vinyl).
Images and text (edited) come from Washington Toxics Coalition literature.
BCC Earth Week is organized by the BCC Student Science Association. For more information contact Rob Viens in the BCC Science Division at rviens@bcc.ctc.edu or (425) 564-3158.
