DTEST: Test of harmful substances in products for children 2015 - independent tests, more than just reviews
At the outset, it should be mentioned that even small doses of some chemicals contained in products can add up and their long-term effects can harm the body of an adult, let alone a child. During the day, the baby comes into contact with so many potential sources of harmful substances that their protection must be taken comprehensively. Some substances can persist in the body for a long time, or together create an inscrutable cocktail effect. Their effect may not be manifested immediately, but after some time. These are all reasons that should lead parents and manufacturers to exercise caution.
Six categories, four sinners
We sent almost seven dozen objects of daily use to small children to the laboratory. We analyzed 19 long-sleeved onesies, 14 colorful foam puzzle mats, 7 play blankets, 11 types of diapers, 10 pacifiers, and 7 changing mats. We determined the presence of selected harmful and potentially harmful chemical substances in them and measured the pH.
We discovered two foam puzzle mats, Alltoys and HM Studio, with several times higher content of harmful formamide than is allowed in children's products, for example in France. One pacifier, Tigex Hello Kitty, containing bisphenol A (BPA), which is banned in baby bottles throughout the European Union, can also be considered problematic. In some countries, it is also banned in food packaging, teething rings or in pacifiers. There is no similar ban in the Czech Republic. We found a high content of chlorinated flame retardant in the Baby Calin changing mat, which, unlike previous products, cannot be purchased on the Czech market. The limit for this substance is already contained in European legislation, it will come into effect at the end of this year.
We found traces of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons anthracene or naphthalene in four types of diapers, and we measured phthalate residues in three items, six foam pads and one play blanket. Six of the children's bodies also contained measurable amounts of formaldehyde. However, the values of all these substances were below the limits given by European legislation or the Öko-Tex standard, which is an international testing and certification system for textiles. For the remaining products, the devices did not detect the presence of the monitored substances at all, which means "0" in the tables that you can find at the end of the article. These contain products available on the Czech market at the time of the test. A detailed table of the results of all tested products can be found in the attached PDF file.
Let's add that we also checked the pH of the selected products. If the acidity or alkalinity is too high, irritation of the baby's skin can occur. For many products, we measured slightly higher pH values than those required by Öko-Tex for children's products. Some were even very basic.
What is Öko-Tex It is an association of 16 independent testing institutes from Europe and Japan with headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. Oeko-Tex Standard 100 then indicates the international testing and certification system for textiles that are produced exclusively from harmless materials, and at the same time represents a seal of quality. Manufacturers can have their textile products certified if they meet strict conditions. This gives customers a guarantee that the clothes and textiles they buy meet the criteria of health safety. In order for the products to be certified, all their components must meet Öko-Tex Standard 100 without exception. For example, all threads, trims, hems, prints, patches, but also buttons, zippers or patents or studs must undergo testing. The presence of prohibited substances, the content of substances regulated by law and known harmful substances that are not regulated by legislation, as well as other parameters, are tested. which may have an impact on human health. Öko-Tex requirements are often stricter than the criteria and limits set by local legislation. During testing, a distinction is always made as to what use the textile is intended for. The more intensive the expected contact with the skin, the stricter the conditions it must meet. That is why Öko-Tex also divides textile products into four categories: Class I – textile products for infants and toddlers up to three years of age (clothing, toys, bedding, washcloths, terry towels, etc.) Class II – textiles that are in direct, intensive contact with with skin (underwear, bed linen, undershirts, t-shirts) Class III – clothing that is not worn directly on the skin (jackets, coats) Class IV – decorative textiles (curtains, upholstery, tablecloths)Ubiquitous pollutants
< p>Babies are surrounded by toys from birth. The plastic ones they like to shove in their mouths may contain phthalates, flame retardants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organotin compounds or heavy metals. Textile toys and stuffed animals often also contain plastic parts, and substances such as azo dyes are used to treat (not only) fabrics, which can influence children's attention. These toys can also have a high pH and thus irritate the skin or contain allergenic colors or formaldehyde. Chemicals can enter the body through inhalation if they are released into the air, with saliva when children put them in their mouths, or through skin contact.The air also affects the onslaught of harmful substances that children have to face. This includes both the indoor environment, where, for example, volatile organic substances can be released from building materials or furniture, and the outdoor air polluted, for example, by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Children's cosmetics (wet wipes, body lotions, oils and creams) also present varying degrees of chemical risk. Evidence can be found in our test of children's sunscreens last year (From a pharmacy or drug store, dTest 7/2014), which revealed three products with the presence of potential endocrine disruptors, i.e. chemicals that can negatively affect the endocrine glands. Another two products contained significant allergens.
Food and drink represent another daily possibility for intake of unwanted substances. Vegetables, fruits, honeys and teas are not pesticide-free, as our tests so far show. The case with bisphenol A (BPA) shook Europe mainly thanks to the lobby of the Greenpeace organization in 2010, when the European Commission recognized the risks of BPA for children's bodies and ordered a ban on the production and sale of baby bottles with this substance in 2011. While some countries subsequently adopted a ban on for other products and food packaging materials into which bisphenol A can pass, the Czech Republic only stuck to the ban on bottles.
What were we looking for and why?
Phthalates are esters of phthalic acid and are used as plasticizers, which give them flexibility and durability. They are found, for example, in plastic textile prints, plastic surface treatments or in rubber parts of toys. Some of them are apparently not harmful to human health, but there are some among them that are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction, referred to as CMR. European Directive No. 1907/2006 regulates the permissible amount of some phthalates in toys and childcare articles to less than 0.1% by weight.
In the test, we also determined the presence of phthalates, which are not yet regulated by European legislation, but are on the so-called candidate list of substances of very high concern (SVHC - substances of very high concern), which is defined by the European directive on the registration, evaluation and authorization of chemical of REACH substances. These substances are not prohibited, but if they are contained in the product above 0.1% by weight, the manufacturer is obliged to list them in the composition on the packaging.
Some phthalates disrupt the hormonal system, they are among the so-called endocrine disruptors. Long-term studies have shown that they cause sperm depletion and genital atrophy in laboratory animals, other studies have linked phthalates to liver cancer.
We have subjected pacifiers, plastic printed baby bodysuits, foam puzzle mats and changing mats to laboratory tests for phthalates. All of these products can theoretically contain phthalates, and children come into contact with all of them. We found them in several products, but always only in a very low concentration.
Formaldehyde is a volatile, colorless gas that naturally occurs in small amounts in the atmosphere and in nature. It is also produced in large quantities industrially and used to produce other chemicals such as dyes, adhesives, fertilizers, plywood, pressed materials or foam insulation. It is used in the textile industry and its emissions from fabrics are a result of its use in fixing colors or in fabric treatments to prevent wrinkling and soiling. It is a carcinogenic substance for humans, it can cause skin, eye and nasal mucosa irritation or allergies.
Formaldehyde content in products for children is not regulated across Europe from Brussels, restrictions exist only at national levels. This is not the case in the Czech Republic. For consumers, the Oeko-Tex mark can be a guarantee of checking the content of this substance, for example, which confirms that the manufacturer's conditions for the chemical composition of the product, a considerate production process and an ecological approach have been met. For children's textiles, Oeko-Tex has set a maximum limit of 16 mg/kg. None of the children's onesies and play blankets we tested for formaldehyde exceeded it. The traces of formaldehyde that we found in the two teddy bears and one play blanket were between 3 and 5 mg/kg.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons represent a group of hundreds of chemical compounds that can be formed during the incomplete combustion of coal, oil, gasoline and other organic materials. They get into the air and into the soil, and through them into the food that people eat. We monitor them regularly, for example, in food tests, because they are carcinogenic substances, the intake of which from individual sources is easy to add up. They may not be visible in food, in other products they can appear as impurities on leather, rubber, plastics and surfaces made from them. They enter the body through inhalation, skin contact or swallowing. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are demonstrably carcinogenic and mutagenic. The most toxic of them is benzo(a)pyrene.
In the test, we monitored the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in foam puzzle mats, play blankets, pacifiers and disposable diapers. The main source of contamination in these types of products can be softening oils in rubber and plastic parts or black soot, which forms black streaks in plastic and rubber. We measured one of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (anthracene) in Toujours diapers from Lidl.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical compound that is a common part of consumer products and until recently was also contained in baby bottles. Tests have shown that BPA escapes from the plastic and contaminates the contents, thereby entering the body. It is a toxic substance that can affect the hormonal balance of animals and the development of their offspring. BPA has been linked to problematic development and function of the male reproductive organs, heart disease and diabetes.
An international panel of experts of the World Health Organization came to the conclusion that most bisphenol A enters the human body with food from packaging, bottles, cans and boxes. Despite the activities of the Greenpeace organization, the Czech Republic incorporated the ban on the use of bisphenol A in baby bottles into Decree No. 111/2011 Coll. until the regulation from Brussels, and moreover with a delay. In France, the ban on the use of BPA also applies to children's food and drink packaging, and since 2012 it has also been extended to the plastic rings that hold the teat in the bottle, pacifiers and teething rings. Since this January, France has also banned the use of BPA in all packaging that comes into contact with food. The Tigex Hello Kitty pacifier contained it at 200 µg/kg.
Formamide is an amide of formic acid, it is a clear colorless liquid that smells like ammonia. It is used as an intermediate in the production of pharmaceuticals, herbicides and pesticides and for the production of hydrocyanic acid. It is also used as an emollient and solvent. Formamide in its pure form is an irritant that irritates the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. So far, there has been no scientific study on its effects directly on humans. However, tests on animals show that formamide has an adverse effect on hematopoiesis and reproductive organs, no matter how it enters the body (inhalation, mouth or skin). Whether contact with formamide in infancy has a negative impact on fertility in adulthood must be confirmed by further research. Its chronic toxicity consists mainly in damage to hematopoiesis. The highest dose at which a negative effect has not yet been observed in animal experiments has been set at 20 mg/kg of body weight in one day.
The European Union does not take a selective approach to formamide yet, and Directive No. 2009/48 only sets a ceiling of 5000 mg/kg for all substances designated as CMR (i.e. carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic for reproduction, to which formamide belongs). However, in the first quarter of 2015, the European Commission is preparing to approve a proposal to adopt limits for selected chemicals in children's products, among which is formamide. However, some European countries have already introduced a permissible limit for the content of this substance in children's products. In France, the current limit is 200 mg/kg. We measured values of 1300 and 1600 mg/kg in foam pads sold in the Czech Republic. Let's add that no limit has been introduced in our country yet. Foam puzzle mats, mats and exercise mats are often its source. In 2011, the French Food, Environment, Safety and Health Authority (ANSES) tested puzzle mats for children in a joint project with Italians, Danes and Swiss. Formamide findings ranged from zero to 1600 mg/kg. Almost all mats originated in Asia. However, studies have shown that the concentration of formamide in foam pads was nine times lower after 28 days.
Chlorinated flame retardants are used for fire protection, they chemically reduce the flammability of materials. They are used in a variety of places including polyurethane foam, PVC, electronics (televisions, computers), adhesives, nonwovens, upholstery and carpets, rubber and plastic products, and coatings. Chlorinated flame retardants are, among other things, associated with the development of cancer, hormonal imbalance and DNA mutation. Directive 2014/79/EU, which must be included in the legislation of EU member states no later than 21 December this year, limits some of these substances (TCEP, TCPP, TDCP) to 5 mg/kg. We measured a TCPP content of 163 mg/kg in the surface treatment of the Baby Calin changing mat, which can be bought in France.
Nickel, which can be released from the patents in children's bodysuits and cause contact allergies and local skin irritation, did not escape our attention either. We also investigated the presence of organotin compounds, which are used as protection against decomposition processes by sweat bacteria. Their harmfulness is associated with damage to the liver and kidneys, with disorders of biochemical processes in the body. We examined alkylphenols and alkylphenol ethoxylates, which are used, for example, in the industrial treatment of textiles, in all tested categories. The danger of these substances lies in the suspicion of disturbing the hormonal balance, the connection with cancer and the negative effect on human fertility. We also tested the pacifiers for bisphenol S (BPS), which in the laboratory shows similar negative effects on hormonal balance as bisphenol A. However, we did not find any of these substances in the tested products.
Young children are exposed to various influences from birth, including chemical ones. During the day, he comes into direct contact with cosmetic products, with toys that he puts in his mouth, with printed clothes or prepared food from mass producers. Even the air you breathe can be a potential source of pollutants released from furniture or building materials. Preliminary caution is definitely in order here. Although the individual products themselves may not contain excessive amounts of chemicals, ultimately their amounts can add up.
Potential skin irritation can be prevented, for example, by washing all washable materials well and always washing textiles before first use. It is difficult to advise on disposable diapers in the case of high pH, there it is better to try a completely different one in case of local irritation. However, the skin's sensitivity to pH fluctuations manifests itself immediately, so such sources can be removed quickly.
You can avoid potential sources of phthalates in textiles, for example, by completely omitting fabrics with plastic prints. The Oeko-Tex brand guarantees the safety of textiles for children (and not only for them). Products with this certification must meet strict conditions and limits both during production and in the final phase. In addition, all measures apply to starting raw materials and intermediate products, as well as to partial components of clothing, such as threads, zippers, buttons, studs and various applications or decorations. It is safer to choose changing mats that are made of fabric, or at least cover them with fabric before placing the baby on it.
It is not out of the question to take the manufacturers' claims on the packaging with a big margin. As we found out in our test, the label that the product contains 0% BPA (bisphenol A) is attractive to consumers, but it may not be based on the truth. Although BPA in the Czech Republic is prohibited by law only in baby bottles, in the end it is completely irrelevant whether it gets into the toddler's body from a bottle or a pacifier. For example, "dermatologically tested" or "hypoallergenic", which are often found on children's products, also apply to meaningless and unsubstantiated marketing claims.
Play blankets
In short and with a certain amount of relief, we can say that all the play blankets we have tested are safe from the point of view of the chemicals we have examined. In those that are available in Czech stores, Fischer Price and Ikea, we did not measure any polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, in the Ikea blanket the laboratory equipment detected a small amount of formaldehyde.| play blankets | price (CZK) | formaldehyde | polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons | pH | Fischer Price Prales 1299 | 1299 | 0 | 0 | 0 | < tr>Ikea Leka 599 4 | 599 | 4 mg/kg | 0 | 0 |
|---|
pacifiers
We tested the pacifiers for the content of phthalates, organotin compounds, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and bisphenol A. The vast majority of the 10 tested pacifiers passed all tests without , to exceed any of the legislative limits. Five pacifiers are also available on the Czech market, among them the Tigex Hello Kitty, in whose hard plastic part, to which the latex or silicone teat is attached, we measured 200 µg/kg of harmful bisphenol A. On its packaging, it states "0% BPA", i.e. the information that it does not contain bisphenol A.| pacifiers | price (CZK) | phthalates | polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons | bisphenol A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phillips Aventsilicone night pacifier 6-18m | 159 /2pcs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sauvinex Fusion Anatom. shaped 12m.+ | 199/2pcs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 149 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 139/2pcs | 0 | 0 | 200μg | |
| Nuk Disney Mickey | 79 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Infant bodysuits
The long-sleeved bodysuits we tested that are (or were at the time of testing) available on our market passed the test for the selected chemicals without major problems. Although we found traces of formaldehyde in two products from Czech stores (Scamp and Baby Nellys), in both cases they were well below the Oeko-Tex limit. We then found traces of phthalates in some of the 19 tested items, but they were only just above the detection limit and well below the limits set by European legislation. These minimal findings related to products that are not available on the Czech market.| baby body | price (CZK) | phthalates | formaldehyde |
|---|---|---|---|
| H&M pink | 179 | 0 | 0 |
| Scamp Squirrel | 129 | 0 | 5 mg/kg |
| Baby Nellys Airplane | 124 | X | 3 mg/kg |
| C&A Little cute rockstar | 98 | 0 | 0 |
| Lindex You are loved | 199 | 0 | 0 |
Baby diapers< /h3>The disposable diapers that we included in our joint test, with one exception (Carrefour Baby, unavailable on the Czech market), had a slightly higher pH, which could cause irritation to the baby's skin. In the case of Toujours diapers from Lidl, we also discovered anthracene - one of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Compared to the limit set by the Öko-Tex standard (5 mg/kg), however, this was less than a tenth.
| baby diapers | price (CZK) | phthalates | polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons | ph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pampers Baby-Dry | X | 0 | 0 | 7.9 |
| Lidl Toujours, Dry Lock | 149/29pcs | 0 | Anthracene 0.444 mg/kg | 8 |
| 402/60pcs | 0 | 0 | 7.6 |
Foam puzzle mats
The results of the formamide test for children's foam puzzle mats purchased in the Czech Republic and manufactured in China took the breath away of our French partners. The values of this reproductively toxic substance were an order of magnitude higher than the limit allowed in France. Let's add that formamide was not detected at all in 8 out of 14 tested products. The laboratory also found the most widespread of phthalates - DEHP - in these products. Even if the amount found was below the limit set by the Union, it should be remembered that this substance belongs to the so-called endocrine disruptors and even a small amount can have a "creeping" effect. With the warm foam puzzle mat, children come into contact with their skin, moreover, they can easily unfold it and put it in their mouth. The aforementioned products were also found to be highly alkaline - the pH of the aqueous solution in which they were soaked reached 9.1 and 9.2, respectively.| foam puzzle mats | price (CZK) | phthalates | polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons | formamide | pH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| People Fruits-Vegetables | 378 | 0< /td> | 0 | 0 | 8.2 |
| HM Studio Animals-fruit-numbers | 290 | DEHP 0.012% | 0 | 1300 mg/kg | 9.2 |
| Alltoys Numbers | 199 | DEHP 0.013% | 0 | 1600 mg/kg | 9,
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