Baby Products Containing Carcinogen Chemicals

In a recent research published by the journal Environmental Science & Technology, amounts of flame retardants showed in baby’s products made with polyurethane foam, including nursing pillows, car seats and highchairs. The research found that foam samples from more than a third of the 101 baby products that were tested contained chlorinated Tris, and 80 of the products contained chemical flame retardants of some kind, some of which are considered toxic, though legal to use. In one instance, flame retardants represented 12 percent of the weight of the foam in a changing pad, but most products were closer to 3 to 5 percent. Products examined were changing pads, sleep positioners, portable mattresses, baby carriers, rocking chairs and highchairs. 

Fourteen of the products contained the flame retardant TCEP, which the State of California describes as a cancer-causing agent. Four of them contained Penta-BDE, a flame retardant that builds up in human tissue and that manufacturers voluntarily phased out in 2004; it is banned in many countries, but not the United States, and in some states, including New York.

Source: nytimes

Spotting Phthalates

Phthalates are very hard to be identified, but unfortunately are present in many toys and baby products. The Daily Green came up with 3 steps to help us identify products that have, or are likely to have, phthalates or other carcinogen compounds:

1. Read the ingredients. According to the organization Pollution in People, you can identify phthalates in some products by their chemical names, or abbreviations:
• DBP (di-n-butyl phthalate) and DEP (diethyl phthalate) are often found in personal care products, including nail polishes, deodorants, perfumes and cologne, aftershave lotions, shampoos, hair gels and hand lotions. (BzBP, see below, is also in some personal care products.)
• DEHP (di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) is used in PVC plastics, including some medical devices.
• BzBP (benzylbutyl phthalate) is used in some flooring, car products and personal care products.
• DMP (dimethyl phthalate) is used in insect repellent and some plastics (as well as rocket propellant).
2. Be wary of the term "fragrance," which is used to denote a combination of compounds, possibly including phthatates, which are a subject of recent concern because of studies showing they can mimic certain hormones.
3. Choose plastics with the recycling code 1, 2 or 5. Recycling codes 3 and 7 are more likely to contain bisphenol A or phthalates.

Source: The Daily Green