Should children be protected from carcinogens (group 1, 2A and 2B) in school?

[porridgeandberries]

I wondered whether children should be protected from carcinogens when in school? Does anyone know what the law says about schools exposing children to a carcinogen or possible carcinogen if the child's parents are unhappy about this and don't give their consent?

What sort of carcinogen do you mean?

carcinogens are in almost everything from food to glass it would be impossible to protect them from possible carcinogens.

Like burnt toast?

With one in three people now expected to develop cancer, surely schools should be making all efforts not to give children a carcinogen in school? What is the legal position if a school were, for example giving children alcohol during the school day, or coffee in class, or sweets with titanium dioxide in etc... Would they be breaking the law by putting children at risk of harm?

Which carcinogens, specifically?

err, depends if you mean something which is an avoidable, proven carcinogen, or something which has a media hype about it, but hasn't been prooven.

I think the examples you give are not reasonable to avoid, and are things which you will come across in daily life, and are not prooven carcinogens

However if you said plutonium, or asbestos fibres, I'd be agreeing with you.

Hi nextphase,
Alcohol is a definite carcinogen according to the IARC International Classification and doctors recommend that children do not drink it and it is possible to avoid it in school. Titanium dioxide is a class 2B possible carcinogen. Media hype isn't relevant, either for or against a toxin. I'm interested to find out what might be the position for a parent if a school is giving a carcinogen to a child against their parents' wishes.

Is your OP in response to something specific at your DC's school?

Alcohol hand wash?

A school giving alcohol to pupils?

It is for the school which our one feeds into. Alcohol in beverages is what is listed on IARC.

I'm pretty sure children are not routinely given alcohol in school. What on earth are you waffling about?

OP - you seem to be being deliberately vague as to what your problem is. If you want any considered responses or suggestions please tell us what exactly this school are giving the pupils.

If the substance in question has passed British safety standards then there is no reason for the school to restrict it (unless age restrictions apply). 100% of people who die of cancer have inhaled nitrogen.

If you tell us what the substance in question is then we can judge whether it should be in the school or not. If its overcooked school dinners then you may have a point.

And as for the 1 in 3 people being expected to develop cancer, this is actually as success for medical science rather than being anything wrong with our society: it is simply that we are living long enough to get cancers and know that it is cancer that causes a death when previously it would be unexplained.

No, nano TiO2 is classed as a possible carcinogen IN POWDER FORM. So it is the workers exposed to possible ground TiO2 dust who MAY be at risk (see here for example.
Quite apart from the fact nearly all producted TiO2 isn't actually nano scale, your not in the at risk catagory, unless the kids are taken to a factory. So it IS media hype which has distored the facts.

I'd missed the alcohol line sorry. But I'd be objecting to schoold giving my kids alchol for may reasons other than the one you've mentioned!

I think I'd also be commenting on the regular availability of tea and coffee at school, but mine are preschool, so that would be a primary school reaction. I wouldn't object if it was a one off such as a traditional english afternoon tea, or french breakfast.

Very strange thread.

What sort of alcohol are the children being given, OP? Rum and coke, V&T, or handwash

If children are routinely consuming booze at this school, surely the carcinogenic properties of alcohol would be the least of your worries

Shit, am I not supposed to be giving them whiskey to warm them up in the morning? And I give them coffee after break too, otherwise how do they stay awake for the rest of the day??

One primary school I attended handed out milky coffee at morning break in the winter.

My DS may have access to Tea and Coffee, but he is in sixth form. He actually makes tea and coffee for teachers once a week (voluntary service thing) so could sneak some there if he wanted.

I know of no school allowing pupils to imbibe alcohol, and they have very strict procedures to avoid it. They do allow its use in chemical labs, but under strict supervision. The chemicals allowed in school are highly restricted compared to my day, and risk assessment is more rigorous.

OP I still have no idea as to what you are going on about.

So OP, what actually are you on about?

Are you talking about something carcinogenic in a school lunch, maybe processed meats?