Moms cry, ‘Save our babies from toxic chemicals’
When it comes to their precious little bundles of joy, moms can’t be too careful. Thus, many a mom will be alarmed to read this news item that appeared recently in The Vancouver Sun. The story by Erin Ellis talks about the “growing concern about the long-term effects of chemical exposure on our children (especially babies).”
Erin Ellis writes a mouthful: “Kilogram for kilogram, babies eat more food, drink more liquids and breathe more air than adults, thereby taking in more toxins from their environment. Blood tests regularly show higher per-kilogram chemical loads in babies, but that falls as they age. Babies are more likely to be on the floor, putting objects in their mouths and ingesting more dust known to contain pollutants from household plastics, treated fabrics, sprays, and deodorizers.At the same time, concern is growing over the cumulative effects of chemicals found to persist in the body long after exposure. That’s why industry watchdogs say there needs to be even more restrictions on substances, such as phthalate plasticizers, that accumulate in humans.”
Here at home, the EcoWaste Coalition and Save Babies Coalition have joined forces to add their voices to those of other countries taking precautionary action to protect babies from potential toxic contamination. They have called on the government to order the immediate recall of baby feeding bottles containing the toxic ingredient Bisphenol A or BPA.
Concerned eco warrior Manny Calonzo notes, “Babies act like little sponges for chemicals, soaking up the good — and the bad. Babies are too susceptible to chemicals that can badly impact their growth and development. We need health-based policies and actions that will protect developing fetuses, babies, and children from such substances.”
BPA is a known endocrine disruptor that can leach from polycarbonate (PC) bottles when heated. It can mimic or disrupt natural hormone functions and potentially harm the development of young children.
While vigorously pushing for a ban on BPA-containing feeding bottles, the eco groups have come up with the following consumer tips to protect babies from exposure to toxins.
1. Nourish your child with breast milk, the most complete and first zero waste food. Go for exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continue breastfeeding for two years and beyond.
2. Go for cup feeding or giving expressed breast milk (or that taken without the baby suckling, by hand or with a breast pump) through cups as the situation requires
3. Refrain from feeding your baby canned foods with plastic linings, which might contain BPA.
4. Avoid polycarbonate plastic containers, usually marked “PC” or the number “7”; use safer alternatives such as glass, ceramics or stainless steel.
5. Refrain from microwaving food and beverage in plastic or plastic cling wraps. If you prefer to microwave, put the food or drink on a suitable plate or cup instead.
6. Reduce consumption of canned foods as can liners may contain BPA; opt for fresh, natural, and indigenous food instead.
7. Check product labels and select the ones that say “BPA-free.” Ask your retailer to offer BPA-free products.
Fact is, we really ought to reduce the number of toxic chemicals in our own home as this has led to the rise in chronic childhood health problems such as obesity, asthma, and autism.
The Vancouver Sun story lists the following products of great concern:
• Shampoos with formaldehyde-releasing chemicals 1,4-dioxane and quaternium-15 (as these can be inhaled when released into the air).
• Antibacterial soap with triclosan (another persistent, hormone-disrupting chemical that’s an unnecessary additive to soap, toys, and toothpaste).
• Hard plastic with BPA. While it’s banned in plastic baby bottles and sippy cups for toddlers in Canada, it remains in other plastic products.
• Pyjamas or car seats with flame retardants (they pollute the environment and accumulate in humans).
• Disposable diapers (they end up in landfills; they’re bleached white with chlorine, creating cancer-causing dioxins).
And because the season of giving is almost upon us, children’s toys are top of mind.
House Bill 6552 or the “Safe and Non-Toxic Children’s Product Act of 2012” seeks “to regulate the importation, manufacture, sale, and distribution of children’s toys, school supplies, childcare articles and other related products containing toxic chemicals.”

These toxic chemicals include (but are not limited to) antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury, as well as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates. 


“Our latest pre-Christmas analysis of toys indicates that 60 of the 100 samples (60%), contain lead and other toxic metals that have been linked with reproductive abnormalities, endocrine disorders, behavioral, developmental, and learning problems and even cancers,” says Thony Dizon, coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Project Protect. 

Take double note: Found tainted with heavy metals above levels of concern were some dolls with PVC materials, play makeup sets, toy animals, toy boxing gadgets, toy cars, toy guns, toy musical instruments, among other toys.
Surely, there’s no toying around with our children’s health.
