Dogman
3rd August 2011, 04:13 PM
Know some members have small ones or are expecting.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232213.php
Toxic substances such as hazardous flame retardants and chemical additives that have been linked to cancer (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/cancer-oncology/), birth defects, hormone imbalances and allergies, have been found in 60% of children's car seats tested by the Ecology Center in Michigan, USA, while others were found to have virtually no dangerous chemicals in them at all.
You can see the full list of 2011 car seats they tested and the results in a report that they posted online today, 3 August, on the consumer website HealthyStuff.org.
Jeff Gearhart, Research Director at the Ecology Center, told the press there is no doubt that "car seats save lives". It was "absolutely essential" that parents put their children in car seats while driving, and this should be regardless of how the seats score in these kinds of tests, he added.
But, given the range of seats available, and that according to these tests some appear to be more toxic than others, then parents would do well to research the best car seat for their children, he urged.
The Ecology Center tested over 150 models launched in 2011 that are available to buy in shops and retail outlets in Michigan. In 2009 they tested 58 models and in 2008 they tested 131.
The brands they tested include: Alpha Sport, Baby Trend, Britax, Chicco, Clek, Combi, Compass, Dorel Juvenile Group, Evenflo, Fisher Price, Graco, Harmony Juvenile, Orbit Baby, Peg Perego, Recaro, Sunshine Kids, Teutonia, and The First Years.
They tested for bromine (this is associated with brominated flame retardants or BFRs), chlorine (this indicates presence of PVC and plasticizers), allergens, lead and other heavy metals. These chemicals have been associated with allergies, cancer, liver toxicity, birth defects and impaired learning.
The tests revealed that:
44% of the 2011 models they tested contained BFRs that are either considered toxic or lack adequate health safety data.
60% of the 2001 models contained one or more of the hazardous chemicals included in the test, such as PVC, BFRs and heavy metals.
Things seem to be improving: percentage of car seats with BFRs went down by 18% from 63% in 2009 to 44% in 2011; and average number of toxins per seat improved by 64% from 1.5 in 2009 to 0.9 in 2011.
However, some makers are still using potentially more hazardous BFRs than other companies: for example Baby Trend (100%), Recaro (100%), and Britax (84%).
The report says that when the chemicals in these products are exposed to heat and the UV rays in sunlight, they break down faster, and this can increase their potential toxicity.
Babies and infants are thought to be the most vulnerable group to this source of toxins because they are smaller (so proportionally, even a small amount of toxin has a larger effect), they spend more time in car seats, and their bodies are still developing.
Andy Igrejas, director of the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition, said the report reveals "how our country's major chemicals law -- the Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976 -- is flawed and fails to protect children from hazardous chemicals".
For a complete list of car seat rankings, both from 2011 and previous years' tests, and chemical composition visit http://www.HealthyStuff.org (http://www.healthystuff.org/).
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44004744/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/#.TjnHFrVMiSo
Toxic car seats? Group ranks the best and worst
Researchers analyzed more than 150 new car seats for flame-retarding chemicals
By Joseph Brownstein
After a new baby arrives, one of the first products a parent uses is the car seat to take them home from the hospital.
But while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides information on how car seats perform in crashes, one consumer research group is aiming to provide parents (http://www.myhealthnewsdaily.com/car-seat-toxins-best-worst-rankings-1758/#) information about the chemicals — primarily those in flame retardants — that may be contained in the seat material.
Healthystuff.org, a project of the Michigan-based non-profit Ecology Center, analyzed more than 150 new car seats for the presence of flame-retarding chemicals, including bromine, chlorine, lead and other substances that have been linked to learning disabilities or developmental problems.
Because it's unknown whether the chemical levels in car seats are high enough to cause harm, the researchers cautioned that the value of this study is secondary to a car seat's primary purpose.
"Car seats are a safety device," said Jeff Gearhart, research director for healthystuff.org. "Parents (http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44004744/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/#) should use a car seat regardless of what our tests show. None of the results of our findings mean you shouldn't have a car seat, even if that car seat is the poorest one we tested."
Rather, parents may want to use the ratings when purchasing a new seat when their child (http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44004744/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/#) grows, Gearhart said.
The best and the worst
(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31066137/media-kit/)
Here's how the top five car seats fared in the study:
Graco Turbo Booster in Anders was the only seat tested that did not contain any chlorine, bromine or the nine metals tested.
Graco SnugRide 35 in Laguna Bay contained 234 parts per million (ppm) of bromine in the seat, and no detectable levels of other possibly toxic chemicals.
The Chicco Keyfit 30 in Limonata had303 ppm of bromine in the seat, and no detectable levels of other possibly toxic chemicals.
Combi Shuttle 33 in Cranberry Noche contained 781 ppm of bromine in the seat, and no detectable levels of other possibly toxic chemicals.
Graco SnugRide 35in Flint had 6 ppm of bromine, and 54 ppm of cobalt in the seat, and no detectable levels of other possibly toxic chemicals.
And the bottom three car seats (beginning with the worst) in the study:
Recaro Pro Booster in Blue Opal contained 2,193 ppm of bromine and 61,130 ppm of chlorine in the seat, and 36 ppm of copper in the base.
Britax Marathon 70 in Jet Set contained 2,043 ppm of bromine and 628 ppm of chromium in the seat. The clip also contained bromine, lead and copper.
Recaro ProSPORT Toddler in Misty had 1,739 ppm of bromine and 52 ppm of copper in the seat, along with bromine and lead in the base and clip.
[See the results of all seats tested (http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/childrens-products/product.carseatsonly.php).]
Gearhart said the experience of testing a multitude of consumer products has led him to observe that many of the chemicals of concern are found in a number of products.
More at link
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44004744/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/#.TjnHFrVMiSo
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232213.php
Toxic substances such as hazardous flame retardants and chemical additives that have been linked to cancer (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/cancer-oncology/), birth defects, hormone imbalances and allergies, have been found in 60% of children's car seats tested by the Ecology Center in Michigan, USA, while others were found to have virtually no dangerous chemicals in them at all.
You can see the full list of 2011 car seats they tested and the results in a report that they posted online today, 3 August, on the consumer website HealthyStuff.org.
Jeff Gearhart, Research Director at the Ecology Center, told the press there is no doubt that "car seats save lives". It was "absolutely essential" that parents put their children in car seats while driving, and this should be regardless of how the seats score in these kinds of tests, he added.
But, given the range of seats available, and that according to these tests some appear to be more toxic than others, then parents would do well to research the best car seat for their children, he urged.
The Ecology Center tested over 150 models launched in 2011 that are available to buy in shops and retail outlets in Michigan. In 2009 they tested 58 models and in 2008 they tested 131.
The brands they tested include: Alpha Sport, Baby Trend, Britax, Chicco, Clek, Combi, Compass, Dorel Juvenile Group, Evenflo, Fisher Price, Graco, Harmony Juvenile, Orbit Baby, Peg Perego, Recaro, Sunshine Kids, Teutonia, and The First Years.
They tested for bromine (this is associated with brominated flame retardants or BFRs), chlorine (this indicates presence of PVC and plasticizers), allergens, lead and other heavy metals. These chemicals have been associated with allergies, cancer, liver toxicity, birth defects and impaired learning.
The tests revealed that:
44% of the 2011 models they tested contained BFRs that are either considered toxic or lack adequate health safety data.
60% of the 2001 models contained one or more of the hazardous chemicals included in the test, such as PVC, BFRs and heavy metals.
Things seem to be improving: percentage of car seats with BFRs went down by 18% from 63% in 2009 to 44% in 2011; and average number of toxins per seat improved by 64% from 1.5 in 2009 to 0.9 in 2011.
However, some makers are still using potentially more hazardous BFRs than other companies: for example Baby Trend (100%), Recaro (100%), and Britax (84%).
The report says that when the chemicals in these products are exposed to heat and the UV rays in sunlight, they break down faster, and this can increase their potential toxicity.
Babies and infants are thought to be the most vulnerable group to this source of toxins because they are smaller (so proportionally, even a small amount of toxin has a larger effect), they spend more time in car seats, and their bodies are still developing.
Andy Igrejas, director of the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition, said the report reveals "how our country's major chemicals law -- the Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976 -- is flawed and fails to protect children from hazardous chemicals".
For a complete list of car seat rankings, both from 2011 and previous years' tests, and chemical composition visit http://www.HealthyStuff.org (http://www.healthystuff.org/).
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44004744/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/#.TjnHFrVMiSo
Toxic car seats? Group ranks the best and worst
Researchers analyzed more than 150 new car seats for flame-retarding chemicals
By Joseph Brownstein
After a new baby arrives, one of the first products a parent uses is the car seat to take them home from the hospital.
But while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides information on how car seats perform in crashes, one consumer research group is aiming to provide parents (http://www.myhealthnewsdaily.com/car-seat-toxins-best-worst-rankings-1758/#) information about the chemicals — primarily those in flame retardants — that may be contained in the seat material.
Healthystuff.org, a project of the Michigan-based non-profit Ecology Center, analyzed more than 150 new car seats for the presence of flame-retarding chemicals, including bromine, chlorine, lead and other substances that have been linked to learning disabilities or developmental problems.
Because it's unknown whether the chemical levels in car seats are high enough to cause harm, the researchers cautioned that the value of this study is secondary to a car seat's primary purpose.
"Car seats are a safety device," said Jeff Gearhart, research director for healthystuff.org. "Parents (http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44004744/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/#) should use a car seat regardless of what our tests show. None of the results of our findings mean you shouldn't have a car seat, even if that car seat is the poorest one we tested."
Rather, parents may want to use the ratings when purchasing a new seat when their child (http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44004744/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/#) grows, Gearhart said.
The best and the worst
(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31066137/media-kit/)
Here's how the top five car seats fared in the study:
Graco Turbo Booster in Anders was the only seat tested that did not contain any chlorine, bromine or the nine metals tested.
Graco SnugRide 35 in Laguna Bay contained 234 parts per million (ppm) of bromine in the seat, and no detectable levels of other possibly toxic chemicals.
The Chicco Keyfit 30 in Limonata had303 ppm of bromine in the seat, and no detectable levels of other possibly toxic chemicals.
Combi Shuttle 33 in Cranberry Noche contained 781 ppm of bromine in the seat, and no detectable levels of other possibly toxic chemicals.
Graco SnugRide 35in Flint had 6 ppm of bromine, and 54 ppm of cobalt in the seat, and no detectable levels of other possibly toxic chemicals.
And the bottom three car seats (beginning with the worst) in the study:
Recaro Pro Booster in Blue Opal contained 2,193 ppm of bromine and 61,130 ppm of chlorine in the seat, and 36 ppm of copper in the base.
Britax Marathon 70 in Jet Set contained 2,043 ppm of bromine and 628 ppm of chromium in the seat. The clip also contained bromine, lead and copper.
Recaro ProSPORT Toddler in Misty had 1,739 ppm of bromine and 52 ppm of copper in the seat, along with bromine and lead in the base and clip.
[See the results of all seats tested (http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/childrens-products/product.carseatsonly.php).]
Gearhart said the experience of testing a multitude of consumer products has led him to observe that many of the chemicals of concern are found in a number of products.
More at link
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44004744/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/#.TjnHFrVMiSo