While browsing the online Levenger catalogue, I noticed a footnote to a page advertising a Moleskine notebook which reads: "Prop 65 Warning for California Residents— Click here for details." Clicking took me to a pop-up window which reads:
"WARNING! This product contains a chemical known to the state ofCalifornia to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm."
Further investiagtion reveals that all the Moleskine products offered are so annotated. I am puzzled by this, and as the owner of several Moleskine notebooks, slightly alarmed. What could the chemical be? And how dangerous could it be in a notebook? I suppose there may be a chance of small children or dogs chewing it but that seems somewhat remote.
I found this blog in a google search. FYI: I actually contacted the Moleskine company and found out that there Notebook Covers, which are flexible plastic, contain DEHP, a chemical known to be a probable human carcinogen. Of course it may not pose a significant risk, but a lifetime accumulation of carcinogenic materials in our environment does. Moleskine claimed that they would be creating and distributing DEHP-free notebooks in August 2010. As of yet, I have not seen any of this new products and you have to wonder about the near ubiquitous glacial pace the corporate world moves toward fixing a problem. Though, I can't imagine Moleskine Inc.'s image can withstand brand damage for long, especially in the declining and shrinking industry of paper products.
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