Why you should make the switch to green baby lotions ’n potions
When it comes to your baby's lotions, shampoos or powders, it’s wise
to go green. Doctors and researchers have found many personal care
products marketed for babies are laced with the harmful phthalates and
other concerning chemicals.
Toxic to little ones
Phthalates
are man-made chemicals used in plastic and vinyl products to make them
soft. They are also found in cosmetics and personal care products in
the form of fragrances and colours. Traces of these chemicals are
showing up in everyone's blood but infants and toddlers seem to have
the highest concentration.
At first, researchers thought
children were picking up traces from sucking or chewing on plastic on
toys or from playing on dusty floors.
No tears but lots of chems
But a recent study, conducted by University of Washington researchers and published in the journal of Pediatrics suggests another source: baby care products.
Researchers
measured the urine from the diapers of 163 infants aged 2 to 28 months
and all had detectable amounts of at least one type of phthalate. More
than 80 percent had seven or more types. The levels of phthalates
increased with the amount of grooming.
More than half the
mothers had used baby shampoos on their infants within 24 hours of the
urine tests; 14 percent had used powder and one-third lotion. These
babies had four times the level of phthalates in their urine as those
whose parents had not used any products on them.
In March of this year, baby shampoos also came under fire
for containing formaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane or both, two chemicals have
been linked to cancer and skin allergies. Of the 28 products tested by
the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics for formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, including some leading national brands, 17 contained traces of both chemicals.
Want grandchildren?
Other
studies have found that phthalates can alter children's hormones,
especially the human male reproductive development when a fetus is
developing. While more research is needed, many scientists are clear
that these are dangerous chemicals and young infants may be more
vulnerable because they are smaller and still developing.
"At
this time, we do not know what the potential long-term health effects
might be, but there is a large body of animal studies to suggest
developmental and reproductive toxicity (from phthalates) and a few
human studies with changes in health outcomes as well," said Dr. Sheela
Sathyanarayana, the lead scientist on the Pediatrics study.
There are concerns these chemicals could interfere with reproduction when exposed children reach puberty.
Out of sight
Although
there's been a law passed in California that will ban six types of
phthalates, there are currently no federal U.S. or Canadian laws
prohibiting their use in personal care products or cosmetics. (In April
2009, Health Canada proposed a ban
on the use of six phthalates in soft vinyl children’s toys and
child-care articles, such as vinyl bibs, school supplies or bath,
squeeze or inflatable toys, but the new regulation has yet to take
effect.) Cosmetic and personal care companies in North America are
under no obligations to list their ingredients, there's no way of
knowing which products have phthalates.
Go organic
Many
European countries are erring on the side of caution and banning these
chemicals. You should too. Fortunately, there are plenty of chemical
free and healthy products out there for baby:
• Erbaviva Baby; available online, at health food stores and many Canadian baby boutiques.
• Live Clean Baby; Canadian, available at major retailers such as grocery and drug stores.
• Hankettes; Canadian, online only.
• Earth Mama, Angel Baby; available at health food stores and many Canadian baby boutiques.
• Burt's Bees Mom and Baby; available at drug stores and health food stores.
• Aubrey's Organics; available at health food stores.
No comments:
Post a Comment