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Study: Baby Products Laden With Toxic Chemicals
May 21 2008 by Courtney Messenbaugh
5/21/08
Fire Retardants Linked to Cancer, Birth Defects
I can't win. I try to take good care of myself and my family, but it seems almost everything is hazardous to our health these days. You can't smoke, you shouldn't drink too much, you're supposed to say "no" to drugs — OK, kidding, that stuff is bad and we all know it. But what about car seats and infant carriers laden with poisonous chemicals?
Take, for instance, a study that Friends of the Earth recently completed. It found toxic fire-retardant chemicals running rampant in many infant carriers, car seats, strollers and more. Naturally, these chemicals are linked to cancer, birth defects, neurological disorders and other health problems. Total buzz kill.
In brief, I can tell you that FOE found high levels of these noxious chemicals, called halogenated fire retardants, in 56 percent of infant carriers, 44 percent of car seats, 40 percent of strollers and 19 percent of portable cribs it tested. Not to mention the bassinets, infant/toddler pillows, toddler chairs and walkers that also tested positive for the chemicals.
Visit FOE's website to see a list of baby-product manufacturers who say they don't use halogenated fire retardants. My house seems to be void of any products by these "safe" manufacturers, but you can bet I'll reference it when I purchase a car seat for baby No. 2 arriving late this summer.
FOE recommends asking a salesperson before purchasing your next car seat whether or not it contains halogenated fire retardants, but the employees at my local Babies R Us usually can't even tell me where the restroom is, so I don't know about that. You could also contact the manufacturer to see if it uses these chemicals, just be prepared to be on hold for a bit. FOE says products made with wood or metal are your best choices, as are polyester, down and wool fillings. Now, that seems pretty straightforward — I can do that!
Slowly but surely I am conquering the poisonous beasts that lurk around me and my family in our car and home. Now if only I could conquer that darn laundry beast.
