Have you seen stories in the press about potentially harmful chemicals in your baby's bottles, toys or nursery equipment? Quite possibly, as there have been several media scares about this issue over the years.
But where do these stories originate from and is there really any cause for concern? BabyCentre takes a look at the facts behind the headlines.
Some background
For some time now, environmental campaigners have been worried about the presence of certain chemicals in our environment. These man-made chemicals cause concern because of their persistence -- they accumulate in the environment, or in our bodies, without being broken down. No-one is yet sure what the long-term effects of these chemicals will be in humans, but there is already evidence that they are harming wildlife.
Greenpeace toxics campaigner Mark Strutt says: 'Some experts argue there is sufficient evidence to suggest these chemicals disrupt the body's endocrine system (which controls hormones and growth) and are linked to chronic diseases such as cancer. We want them banned and substituted with safer chemicals.'
How does all this affect me and my baby?
Some of these chemicals are used in the manufacture of baby equipment, such as plastic (polycarbonate) feeding bottles, cot mattresses and plastic toys. Environmentalists say they can be ingested by children and may build up to harmful levels in their bodies, although some manufacturers dispute this.
Exactly which chemicals are we talking about?
There are four groups of chemicals used in the manufacture of household goods that environmental campaigners have expressed concerns about:
• Phthalates These are chemicals used to soften PVC plastic and are often found in toys. Research has shown that phthalates can build up in the body, and tests on animals have shown they can damage the development of reproductive organs.
Until recently they were used in babies' dummies and teething rings, but the European Union has now banned their use in products "intended to be chewed or sucked in children under three". However, these chemicals are still used in soft plastic toys, such as bath toys and squeezy toys, so it is still possible for your baby to ingest them.
• Organotin compounds These chemicals are used as a stabiliser in PVC. They are found in vinyl flooring and harder PVC toys. These have been found to cause hormonal changes in animals.
• Bisphenol A This chemical is used in babies' feeding bottles. There is some concern that it can leach out into milk if the bottle is old and cracked, although this is disputed by some scientists and manufacturers.
• Brominated flame retardants These chemicals are used to treat clothing, household furnishings, prams, buggies and mattresses, including cot mattresses, to make them less flammable. Research has shown they can leach out and be absorbed into the body, and they have been found in blood and breast milk. They can act as hormone disrupters, and animal tests have linked them to learning disabilities, cancer, miscarriages and changes in the immune system.
How can I tell if baby products are free of these chemicals?
Unfortunately, the short answer is that you can't. At the moment manufacturers are not obliged to state which chemicals are present in their products, but this may be about to change. The European Union is currently drafting a new law, called the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH), which would make it compulsory for manufacturers to provide more information about what their products contain.
Greenpeace and other environmental groups believe REACH doesn't go far enough. They want manufacturers to substitute potentially harmful chemicals with safer alternatives. The REACH law will not come into effect until 2006 at the earliest.
What do manufacturers say?
Robert Chancery-Price, secretary of the Baby Products Association (BPA), says manufacturers take safety concerns seriously. "Many responsible manufacturers are aware of the problems with phthalates, for example, and are using alternatives or are using them within prescribed limits," he says.
"There is some debate over whether polycarbonate bottles are a hazard, but some manufacturers are producing alternatives now that do not contain bisphenol A," he adds. "The BPA has also lobbied the Department of Trade and Industry arguing there is no need to flame retard many baby products, such as prams and pushchairs, but our concerns have fallen on deaf ears."
What do are high-street companies doing?
Lots of high-street companies are starting to look at phasing out potentially harmful chemicals in baby equipment and other households goods. Mothercare, the Body Shop, Ikea, Homebase, Debenhams, Argos, Marks & Spencer, the Co-op, Boots, B&Q and the Early Learning Centre have all signed a pledge drawn up by Friends of the Earth to remove risky chemicals from their products.
Boots confirm that Bisphenol-A is still used in its plastic (polycarbonate) feeding bottles, but said it is converted into an insoluble form and tightly bound into the plastic matrix during manufacture. A spokesman said there was not any convincing evidence that polycarbonate products are not safe. However, as a precautionary measure, Boots has commissioned some independent testing on polycarbonates.
Boots do not sell products containing phthalates intended to be placed in the mouth of children under three, but phthalates may be present in a very small number of soft PVC products for over threes. A spokesman said they are investigating alternatives.
If you have any concerns over the chemical content of any Boots product, contact customer services on 0845 0708 090.
Marks & Spencer spokesman Mike Barry says brominated flame retardants are not used in any M&S children's clothing. M&S have banned phthalates in food packaging and have phased them out of 85 per cent of all product packaging. They are also looking to phase out phthalates from all soft PVC toys. For more details, contact customer services on 0845 302 1234.
What else can I do to protect my child?
Unfortunately, the onus is still very much on consumers to find out if potentially toxic chemicals are used in baby products. If you feel you would like to avoid these chemicals:
• Don't buy PVC toys or, if you do, check with the manufacturer first to see if they contain phthalates or organotin compounds.
• Throw away old or cracked plastic feeding bottles to avoid the possible risk of bisphenol-A leaching into milk.
• When buying a cot mattress, check with manufacturers to see if it has been treated with a flame retardant and that it meets British Safety Standard 1877 part 10.
• Don't pass mattresses on to siblings -- buy a new one for each child.
• Write to manufacturers or call their customer services lines asking if their products contain any of the chemicals listed above.
Where to find out more
• Greenpeace runs a toxics campaign and provides information on potentially harmful chemicals and their impact on babies and children. Log on to www.greenpeace.org.uk
• Find out more about the REACH legislation.
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