Each product or ingredient has its own set of safety questions that toxicologists must pose and answer. These questions determine the type of testing that is performed. Formulating comprehensive product safety questions provides excellent practice in critical thinking. Have student groups examine empty containers of common products, including personal care, garden, cleaning, and so on, and think about more specific questions for each product. Have each group choose a product and write a set of questions tailor-made for the product.
Groups can share their work and revise questions as needed.
The reproducible, Brand New Products provides an example of a question list for a simple product. Though conducting a product safety test in the classroom is not feasible, students can create a safety evaluation plan. I, students indicate in the plan how they would find a scientific answer. They can follow the six steps to Product Safety outlined as a guide. Only those tests needed to answer the questions should be in the plan.