Safe Baby List

Bisphenol A (BPA): This industrial chemical is used in the manufacturing of hard (polycarbonate) plastics and epoxy resin materials. Polycarbonate is commonly found in food storage containers, children’s toys, baby bottles, cups, and medical equipment while epoxy resins are found on the interior of some metal products like canned food, infant formula cans, and bottle tops. BPA can leach from hard plastics when it is heated making it especially imperative to buy BPA free food storage, bottles, or cups. Can be identified by a number “7”.
The Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR) concluded that there was “some concern” that infant exposure to BPA could harm brain development and adversely affect behavior.

Bromine: A component in flame retardants chemicals known collectively as brominated flame retardants (BFR’s). This can be found in baby mattresses, pajamas, upholstery/furniture, action figures, dolls, and jewelry, and toy cars. This chemical effects proper brain development and the thyroid hormone, as well as causing reproductive issues and birth defects.

Cadmium: Cadmium is an inexpensive by-product of zinc with similar properties to lead. It is usually found in painted toys as well as children’s metal jewelry. Cadmium is a highly toxic carcinogen which targets the cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal, neurological, reproductive, and respiratory systems.

Lead: Lead’s sources in children’s toys are plastic and paint. Lead can be found in the paint commonly used in toys imported from other countries with less strict regulations. According to the CDC, lead has not been banned in the use of plastics in the U.S. Lead softens and makes plastic more flexible so that it can return to its original shape. Additionally, it may be used in some plastic toys to stabilize molecules from heat. When the plastic is exposed to substances such as sunlight, air, and detergents the chemical bond between the lead and plastics breaks down and forms a dust which can then easily enter the body. Lead can cause neurological issues as well as problems with one’s kidney’s, and bone marrow.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): This is another common plastic which uses and releases a large amount of hazardous toxins (i.e. ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride) during it’s lifecycle of manufacturing, use, and disposal. It can either be hard/rigid or soft/flexible in form. If it is flexible in form, highly toxic plasticizers (likely Phthalate) have been added to it allowing for it’s form. Chewing or playing with children’s toys can cause PVC to leach and migrate. PVC’s can be spotted by a number “3” and are commonly found in cling wraps, teethers, and soft squeeze toys (balls, bath toys, dolls). Effects of PVC according to greenpeace.org can include liver and kidney lesions, reproductive abnormalities (testicular atrophy, altered development of reproductive tissues and subtle effects on sperm production), cell line transformations and cancers, including those of the liver, kidney, and mononuclear cell leukemia.

*For additional information on chemicals in toys or other products visit http://www.healthystuff.org.

Sources
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips/toys.htm
http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/pvc_the_most_toxic_plastic/
http://archive.greenpeace.org/comms/97/pvctoys/documents/background.html
http://www.wedowebcontent.com/case_results/common-toxins-in-toys-cause-product-liability-concerns.cfm
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/cadmium/index.html

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1 Comment

Reply Cristina Raymond September 21, 2018 at 5:36 am

I noticed the Nuna brand. We have their rava car seat and the nuna mixx stroller. Do those quality as non toxic? Or is it just those specific strollers you mentioned?

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