Ticonderoga pencils and Microban

[KrisM]

I read this on a Amazon review and verified it, Ticonderoga pencils have Microban in the finish: http://www.microban.com/float/i/products/home-products/office-school-products/ticonderoga

[MamaMolly]

Ugh. One more thing to skip.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Blech. Problem is, at ds1's school all supplies are communal. At the start of the year the school provides pencils (no idea of the brand). During the year they ask volunteers to send in more. Unless someone really made an effort to avoid those ones though, I imagine there would be some mixed in with the other brands.

Beth

[KpbS]

I noticed this at Target the other day. Ugh!:thumbsdown: I skipped them but I think our supplies are communal too :(

[infomama]

I wish they wouldn't put this stuff on everything

[KrisM]

I'm pretty sure our supplies are not communial. I hope not, as DS tends to chew on his pencils. So, I clearly need non-Microban pencils. Not sure what brand to buy that is still decent.

I already had to search for non-Microban scissors and now this. I wish they didn't put it so many places.

[jiggaman]

Can someone quickly fill me in on why Microban is bad.

[KrisM]

It's the brand name of triclosan, which is under investigation (or is it done?) for being a hormone disruptor. Here is a long BBB thread about it and products that it is in:

http://windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=355967&highlight=microban

[jiggaman]

It's the brand name of triclosan, which is under investigation (or is it done?) for being a hormone disruptor. Here is a long BBB thread about it and products that it is in:

http://windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=355967&highlight=microban


Great, thank you.

[mytwosons]

I'm also pretty sure they think it could be related to ASDs.

[ett]

I noticed this last year when shopping for school supplies.

[noodle]

Argh.
I wonder how long they've been doing this.
I built up quite the stockpile for DD last year. She goes through pencils like crazy.
DS is using mechanical pencils exclusively, and is good about not losing them.

[Twoboos]

Ugh, Ticonderoga pencils are the ones requested by the school and in the pre-ordered school supply box. Looks like we'll have a full year of exposure. :eek:

[lil_acorn]

What's a good alternative then? I love ticonderoga pencils!

[calv]

What's a good alternative then? I love ticonderoga pencils!

UGGh, seriously?!?! I just got more of these on sale at walgreens. Ugggh, ugggh! I too would love to know what is a good replacement.

[Kindra178]

Our school requires Ticonderoga pencils. Fantastic.

[ThreeofUs]

Oh, just fantastic. Like kids never chew on their pencils, either. i just bought some from Walmart, even though our school specifies Mead pencils (which, btw, I can't find anywhere).

Sheesh.

[DrSally]

Great.....

[KrisM]

What's a good alternative then? I love ticonderoga pencils!

General pencils (http://www.generalpencil.com/gpc_products_schoolpencils.html)are good, I think. I do not know where to buy them, except online though. They are made in the US, which is nice.

[JTsMom]

:32:Just bought, opened and fell in love with 3 packs of them. Figures!

[new_mommy25]

What's a good alternative then? I love ticonderoga pencils!

DS's school requires Mirado #2 pencils. They write very nicely. I bummed to hear about the ticonderago because my kids have used the jumbo version for years. :( Guess I need to throw them away.

[daisymommy]

Can someone quickly fill me in on why Microban is bad.

Just wanted to quickly add I recently read that it is a pesticide as well. Yuck.
http://www.ewg.org/reports/triclosan

I wonder what would happen if we told our kids teachers that we weren't going to buy them and why, maybe bring in a copy of the article, and just bought different pencils?
I'll admit I haven't looked at my kids lists yet (oops!) so I don't know what they are requiring this year. But I sure won't be buying these pencils!

[chlobo]

I just found out Fiskar scissors have microban too. Give me a break.

[o_mom]

DS's school requires Mirado #2 pencils. They write very nicely. I bummed to hear about the ticonderago because my kids have used the jumbo version for years. :( Guess I need to throw them away.

Just wanted to add to this that Sam's Club here carries the Papermate Mirado pencils. Six dozen for $6.98, which works out to $1.16/doz or 9.7 cents per pencil. Not a bad price good pencils - the Ticonderogas are usually 10 cents each in a really good sale.

[chozen]

i have been looking for the jumbo pencils without the microban, i have tried walmart & office depot so far any other ideas?

[KpbS]

i have been looking for the jumbo pencils without the microban, i have tried walmart & office depot so far any other ideas?

You might try a local educational supply store if you have one. Ours has lots of harder to find items like triangular pencil grips, oil pastels, etc.

[ThreeofUs]

i have been looking for the jumbo pencils without the microban, i have tried walmart & office depot so far any other ideas?

Oh, me, too! Update if you find any.


ETA: Here are some on the web

Lakeshore learning has them in red: http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/seo/ca|searchResults~~p|2534374302106158~~.jsp (http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/seo/ca%7CsearchResults%7E%7Ep%7C2534374302106158%7E%7E .jsp)

yellow: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006IEEQ/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B002TVM9O8&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1E8497AA13PND4B065Y4