Have you heard about all the harmful chemicals in everyday baby products?
Children
today face increasing obstacles to healthy development, including
rising incidence of premature birth; male genital defects; learning,
attention and emotional disturbances; early puberty; obesity; and low
sperm quality.
A recent report, "Growing Up Toxic" by the
Environment California Research and Policy Center, confirmed findings
that chemical exposures are the primary cause for increased disabilities
and disease. The only good news is that YOU can protect your child from
many of these chemicals, armed with knowledge and the commitment to buy
smart.
Headlines are screaming about bisphenol A (BPA), a noxious
chemical used in many plastic containers including baby bottles, water
bottles, sippy cups and other containers used for food and beverages.
Much of the recent clamor occurred after publication of a recent study,
Baby's Toxic Bottle: Bisphenol A Leaching from Popular Brands of Baby
Bottles.
The study, commissioned by Environmental Health groups in
the U.S. and Canada, has resulted in calls for bans on BPA, an
environmental estrogen, since it is known to leach out of the plastics
and has been implicated in development and reproductive health risks.
Dr.
David Carpenter, a professor of environmental health sciences at the
State University of New York at Albany School of Public Health, said
that BPA taken into the body before birth or in early years of life can
alter the ratio of sex hormones and affect development.
"It's
absolutely obscene to use a substance that can make little boys less
masculine and opens the chance that little girls will go on to develop
breast cancer," he said at the teleconference.
The BPA studies
call for a ban on the use of BPA following action by the State of
California to ban the use of phthalates and other known cancer causing
ingredients in products designed for children. Phthalates (pronounced
thah-lates) are used to make plastic 'soft' and is found in toys,
teething rings, some bottles and other play things that children often
handle or put into their mouths. The California legislation is leading
other states to begin regulation on known carcinogens, hormone
disruptors, neurotoxins, but the road to success is rocky and very long.
Early
2008, another study found elevated levels of phthalates found in the
urine of babies who'd been recently shampooed, powdered or lotioned with
commonly used, commercial baby products. These reports, along with a
myriad of other recent studies, are contributing to real concern and
outrage on the part of parents across the nation.
When the very
products that are designed to encourage good parenting become a threat
to good health, it creates worry and distress. It also points to the
need for parents to become vigilant consumers who learn to read labels,
follow new studies as they are published and begin to demand safe, clean
products for their children.
One of the first and most
controllable items that a parent can focus on are the skin and body care
products they expose their child to each day. And, no, I'm not talking
just about the baby care products. I am including all the items adults
use to bathe or shower, brush their teeth, plus deodorant, lotion,
makeup, nail polish and products that clean / freshen the home. READ the
labels on your product containers and remember that the average
American comes into contact with over 200 toxic chemicals just getting
ready for work in the morning! If you put it on your own body and then
pick up your child to quiet their sobs, it's safe to assume your child
is getting exposed to the same 200 chemicals that you just slathered
over your own body.
So, how do you get started?
Just take
one step at a time. READ labels and try to limit the number of toxins in
each product. I've listed the most worrisome below - clip the list and
take it with you when you are shopping. Remember that if a product has 5
or 6 ingredients that are on the list - or only 1 ingredient on the
list, that should be reason enough to look for a safer product.
Red Flag Ingredients (toxic synthetic chemicals) to Avoid:
· Alcohol, Isopropyl (SD-40)
· Benzoyl Peroxide
· DEA (Diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), & TEA (Triethanolamine) · Dioxin
· DMDM Hydantoin & Urea (Imidazolidinyl)
· FD&C Color Pigments
· Fragrances
· Parabens
· PEG (Polyethylene glycol)
· Phthalates
· Propylene Glycol (PG) and Butylene Glycol
· Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
· Triclosan
· Sunscreen ingredients like benzophenone, avebenzone, methyoxycinnamates, paba, etc.
I
recommend that you take the time to find the best natural, certified
organic and/or wild crafted formulations. Look for certifications like:
Certified ToxicFree® Product Seal, the EcoCert Seal or the USDA
Certified Organic Seal.
These seals are indications that a third
party has examined the formulations and judged them according to their
safety standards. I believe that you have a 'Right to Know' that what is
in products will not harm you or your baby! Feeling assured that the
products you purchase are free from xeno-estrogens, carcinogens and
other known toxic ingredients is important when you are buying for you
and your baby.
Linda Chae is President & Chief Formulator for Chae Organics,
Inc. and a pioneer in 'go natural' skin care for consumers. Her
commitment to clean, safe toxic free products requires organic
ingredients backed by scientific research. Her toxic free baby shampoo
and baby lotion
[http://www.chaeorganics.biz/component/option,com_virtuemart/page,shop.browse/category_id,23/Itemid,194/]
are gentle and safe for baby's sensitive skin. For more information on
all her products visit www.chaeorganics.biz
[http://www.chaeorganics.biz/]
0 comments:
Post a Comment