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Dangerous Ballpoint Pens: Why You Should Choose German Retailers
We learned as children that pens such as fineliners and ballpoint pens can be dangerous: small parts can be swallowed, ink on the skin is said to be harmful, and James Bond could no doubt kill his opponents with a pencil – or at least put out an eye.
All right, the 007 example may be somewhat far-fetched for everyday life. Even so, pens are not quite as harmless as one might think. A few years ago, author and journalist Thorsten Wiese explained in his book “Warum Kugelschreiber tödlicher sind als Blitze” that an estimated at least 300 people in Germany choke to death each year after swallowing small pen parts.
And then there is another danger, one that is invisible and therefore usually overlooked. Ballpoint pens contain chemicals, and not only in the ink. The chemical substances used in the manufacture of pens can cause health problems such as allergies. There are legal limits, certainly, but not every manufacturer complies with them – and inexpensive ballpoint pens from the Far East in particular can become an issue.
Why, then, you are better advised to choose a quality ballpoint pen from a German retailer: this blog post explains.
Plastic and plasticisers can cause cancer and infertility
At the top of the list of harmful substances is plastic. “Some substances can cause serious health damage, ranging from allergies and obesity to infertility, cancer and heart disease,” warns the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) in its brochure “Achtung Plastik!”. Today, plastic can be found almost everywhere – from toys to cheap ballpoint pens handed out as promotional gifts. They often contain dangerous plasticisers, which the European Union classifies as harmful to reproduction.
So should you simply steer well clear of plastic ballpoint pens and opt for a high-quality ballpoint pen made of wood or metal instead? Yes and no. While metal ballpoint pens are more durable and already inspire more confidence through their quality than plastic ones, the materials used in them can also trigger allergic reactions.
EU legislation sets clear limits for chemical substances
Fortunately, there are clear rules and laws for manufacturers of ballpoint pens. And let us reassure you straight away: the high-quality rollerball pens and ballpoint pens you find at reputable German stationers and trusted online retailers are generally safe.
This safety is ensured by an EU regulation known as REACH, short for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It governs the handling of chemicals. Among other things, it sets limits for certain substances that come into contact with human skin and may cause reactions.
Nickel can cause redness and serious inflammation
One important figure for ballpoint pen manufacturers is the limit for nickel. An object that comes into direct and prolonged contact with the skin may release no more than 0.5 µg/cm² of nickel per week. That may sound like dry theory for specialists – but there are very good reasons for such rules.
Nickel is one of the metals that most frequently causes allergies when it comes into contact with the skin. According to the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), one in ten children in Germany is sensitive to nickel – and this allergy remains for life. “The skin reacts to these allergenic substances with redness, blistering and weeping, and can progress to more serious inflammation.”
Prevention is therefore essential – and this is where manufacturers come in, as they must comply with the nickel limits when producing their goods.
Mandatory testing: most German ballpoint pens are safe
In the overwhelming majority of cases, that is exactly what happens. In a study of 20 fountain pens and ballpoint pens, the Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office Stuttgart (CVUA) found no nickel at all in 16 pens. Nickel was used in only 4 pens – and 2 of those were below the legal limit and therefore harmless.
In fact, manufacturers and retailers are required to have their goods tested. We at Hörner do the same and have our rollerball pens, fountain pens and ballpoint pens tested by independent laboratories – and naturally our pens pose no health risk.
The rules of the REACH regulation apply throughout the EU – and this is precisely why you are better advised to choose pens from German or at least European retailers and avoid very cheap ballpoint pens from China. If they are placed on the European market, the same strict EU rules apply, certainly, yet some companies still try to circumvent them. Fines of 50,000 euros for breaches do not always prove sufficiently discouraging, and on top of that, the EU often finds it difficult to take action against companies based outside Europe.
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[cleverreach form=275818]Conclusion
There are many reasons to pay close attention to quality when buying a ballpoint pen. One of them is your own health. Chemical substances such as plasticisers in plastic or nickel in some metal ballpoint pens can be harmful. We therefore recommend choosing German retailers such as Hörner, which are subject to strict rules on legal limits designed to help prevent allergies, skin reactions and even more serious illnesses.
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