Kids and ChemicalsThey look harmless and we buy them to pamper our little ones, but your average babycare products contain a cocktail of chemicals that might surprise you. Rigorous testing is carried out by the Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA) before any product even reaches the consumer's shelf and the chemicals found in baby products amongst others are within safety guidelines. However, some scientists believe that these tests are not enough. Dr Vyvyan Howard, a toxicologist at Liverpool University, says "There must be a tightening in the rigour of risk assessment procedures." She suggests that current protocols for testing the toxicity of chemicals does not cover the long term build-up of chemicals in the body or the interaction of chemicals placed together in a product. Chemicals in baby productsYou should not be fooled into thinking that trusted brand names will manufacture baby products free from chemicals. Check the labels to see if any of the following are present in in your baby lotions and potions. Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)Research has shown that SLS and SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulphate) may cause potentially carcinogenic nitrates and dioxins to form in the bottles of shampoos and cleansers by reacting with commonly used ingredients found in many products. Large amounts of nitrates may enter the blood system from just one shampooing. They can cause eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, scalp scurf similar to dandruff and allergic reactions. Industrial uses of SLS include engine degreasers and car wash soaps. Propylene Glycol StearateThis chemical alters skin structure, allowing other chemicals to penetrate deeper into the skin, increasing the amounts of other chemicals that reach the bloodstream. It has been linked with skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. Industrially, it is also found in antifreeze. Methylparaben and PropylparabenThe health concern regarding these chemicals suggest that they may alter hormone levels, possibly increasing risks for certain types of cancer, impaired fertility, or alteration of the development of a fetus or young child. According to the Cosmetics Ingredients Review, 2003, 100 per cent of the baby lotions studied contained ingredients which had insufficient research backing their safety and 59 per cent of products contained ingredients that were allergens. Charlotte Vohtz, founder of Green People, a mail order company manufacturing chemical-free toiletries, suggests that the danger occurs when these chemicals are mixed in products. She says "The problem is the synergy - that is the key issue. Some are inhaled, some are in food, some are absorbed by the skin. We are being bombarded by chemicals and babies are the most vulnerable to their effects." However, it's not only what you put on your baby's skin that is hazardous. Phthalates are used in PVC to make it more flexible. However, the European Union is so concerned by the risks posed by phthalates leaking out of plastics when chewed that it has put in place an emergency ban of phthalates in teething toys for children under the age of three. But phthalates are still found in non-teething toys for under-threes and in plastic toys for older children and as you know, a baby will chew anything regardless of its intended function. Research undertaken in 1999 suggests that chemicals released by disposable nappies could cause or aggravate asthma. Nappies were tested as soon as they were taken from the packet for their level of emissions, which were high enough to produce asthma like symptoms. The chemicals released were Tolune, xylene, ethylbenzene, styrene and isopropylbenzene amongst others. These chemicals are by products of the manufacturing process of disposable nappies that contain gel. Disposable nappies are made up of super-absorbant chemicals, paper pulps and plastics. So what can I do?Checking the labels on baby products for the nasties mentioned above, is time consuming and not necessarily easy if you are out shopping with your baby. And the vast majority contain a concoction of chemical names presented in a way that often means nothing to the general consumer. However, in response to the growing concern regarding chemicals in baby products, there are now a number of companies producing organic toiletries which claim to not contain any dangerous chemicals. Some of these include:
Real nappies are also making a comeback and contain no chemicals just natural fibres. To find a supplier in your area take a look at our stockist directory. Where to next?
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