http://www.care2.com/greenliving/disposable-diaper-emissions.html
Disposable Diaper Emissions
by Rosalind C. Anderson and Julius H. Anderson of Anderson Laboratories.
Prevalence of childhood asthma has increased approximately three-fold during the past several decades. We report here several types of acute respiratory toxicity in mice breathing airborne emissions of certain brands of disposable diapers.
Epidemiologists have found links between asthma symptoms and the presence of wall-to-wall carpeting, recent interior painting, and formaldehyde and limonene concentrations in homes. We have reported asthma-like reactions to emissions of air fresheners, colognes, fabric softeners, and waterproof mattress covers. Certain brands of disposable diapers also pose problems.
- Three brands of disposable diapers and one brand of cloth diapers were
purchased in retail stores. All diapers were stored in their original packages in an exhaust hood. Mice breathed emissions of these three brands of disposable diapers.
- Measurements of breathing patterns showed various combinations of irritation of eyes, nose, and throat; irritation of lungs; and decreased airflow as in an asthmatic attack.
- Mice exposed to cloth diapers did not show these problems.
The results demonstrate that some types of disposable diapers emit mixtures of chemicals that are toxic to the respiratory tract. Disposable diapers should be considered as one of the factors that might cause or exacerbate
asthmatic conditions.
We have recently found some brands of diapers which do not harm our mice. For brand names click here.
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add your comment »I certainly agree as to the use of animals in these experiments, especially in an age when we have machines which can give accurate readings on off gassing.
One other concern is that all bedding in the USA, are mandated, by law, to be treated with flame retardents, unless you a totally organic mattress, & the bedding to go with it. Or if you have a medical condition & a doctor's perscription, then you can special order a bed without the chemically based flame retardants.
If a mattress is made of foam materials, yes even memory foam, it's made from chemicals, which you are breathing in too. You, & your infants & childrens are being exposed to numerous toxins in the home all the time.
There are natural rubber mattresses with wool toppers on the market, which do not allow for mold growth, or cause allergenic or asthma symptoms for most people. Even those who are sensitive to wool are unlikely to have a problem,as they will not be in direct skin contact with the wool itself as it is enclosed inside a cotton fabric covering.
I hope this helps those of you dealing with kids, so you can support their health & safety.
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HUMM... Perfect example of the great animal debate. We wanna know whats gonna hurt our kids but we don't wanna hurt our animal friends. I think we should just go cloth... like old days!
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I agree with him.
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While the study was good I cannot seem to shake the irony of using animals to experiment on.Aren't we supposed to be loving the earth and all her creatures?
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