A recent study released in the journal Environmental Science & Technology revealed that 80 percent of baby gear products containing toxins from refractory compounds (flame retardant). These products are generally made of plastic polymers.
One of the fire-resistant compounds used in products such as changing pad (a special basket for changing diapers), baby chair and cot are chlorinated tries. This compound had been used also in pajamas baby, but has been banned since the 1970s.
Environmental Protection Agency, which conducts research institute, said that chlorinated tries cancer risk by category (moderate). If accumulated, the effects could lead to growth problems and disorders of the reproductive system.
Not only that, the study also reveals that almost all special pillow for breastfeeding (nursing pillow) contains other types of refractory compounds namely 2-carboxyethylphosphine tries (TCEP). Just like other tries, TCEP also include carcinogens or cancer triggering.
The danger posed by TCEP is generally considered moderate because the human body is exposed by TCEP. It's just that according to this study, the average baby has a TCEP concentration 3 times higher because the use of products containing these ingredients.
TCEP concentration in infants is also higher because of frequent play on the floor, whereas the most frequent toxic compounds accumulate in the floor. The result could be swallowed by babies who like to insert a finger into his mouth after handling holding something on the floor.
Still, some experts consider the warning conveyed in this study was too excessive. One was Gordon Nelson, professor of chemistry from the Florida Institute of Technology who doubt whether the results of this research are still relevant.
Some of the products tested in this study purchased around 2002, before there was a ban on some types of flame-retardant compounds. For example PentaBDE are now no longer in use in industry, he said as quoted by USA Today on Thursday May 19, 2011.
