PORTLAND -- The rush to get those back-to-school supplies has begun.
But before you check off your list, check to make sure those binders and book bags don't contain toxic chemicals.
PVC-free back-to-school guide
Environmental groups say the biggest concern right now is plastic that contains PVC, or polyvinyl-chloride. PVC is used to make plastic soft, so you'll find it in a lot of school supplies.
The Oregon Environmental Council warns parents if it's plastic, flexible, and shiny it could be made with PVC.
"The way it’s made all the way through the way it's disposed . . . there is some exposure risk of things linked to cancer, things are linked hormone disruption," said Jen Coleman, Outreach Director for the Oregon Environmental Council.
While many companies have stopped using PVC plastic, you'll likely still find some of it on the shelves. It’s found in everything from binders, to backpacks, even lunch boxes.
"People are exposed to it through inhalation. You can actually smell the rubber ducky plastic smell," explained Coleman.
Some supplies do list PVC as an ingredient, however many do not. The good news is that many stores, including Fred Meyer, offer a wide variety of PVC-free, earth-friendly alternatives.
"It seems like every company is heading in that direction either more earth friendly or health conscious," said Nicole Heiden with Fred Meyer.
