bisphenol A (BPA).
This plastic hardener is found in baby bottles and in the lining of formula cans. BPA has estrogen-like effects on the body and may increase the risk of cancer. (For more information read: Plastics and Your Health.)
What You Can Do:
Parents should use glass bottles and not heat foods in plastic containers as heated plastic leaches chemicals. If possible, breastfeed.
Phthalates.
This softens the plastic in toys such as rubber duckies. Phthalates have been detected in vinyl kids’ toys and can affect reproductive development.
What You Can Do:
Encourage your teething toddler to chew on a frozen washcloth or even a silicon kitchen spatula.
PBDEs.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers are used in many products from upholstery, couch, or carpet padding to computers and TVs. It is a flame-retardant agent. PBDEs, which enter our systems via the air we breathe and animals we eat, may impair brain development and cause thyroid problems. It is most concerning to developing fetuses and babies as it may hinder learning, memory, or motor skills.
What You Can Do:
- Buy furniture that is PBDE-free. Some countries like Sweden have banned its use, so buying from IKEA, for instance, insures your furniture is free from this.
- Consider re-upholstering your furniture with wool
- Consider purchasing an indoor air cleaner with a HEPA filter, buy a good HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaner, and dust often
- Visit Mother’s Milk for names of manufacturers of PBDE-free products
Lead.
Everyone remembers the lead found in Chinese-manufactured toys, but lead has been around for ages. It is still in old paint used before the 1970s—so the windowsills of old homes and the cabinets of old kitchens contain lead that can leach out in the form of invisible dust during renovations. Many bathroom and kitchen tiles have high lead levels.
What You Can Do:
- Get your child’s lead levels checked at his first birthday
- Have your water tested for lead (free of charge) by your local water agency
- Move out of your house when you renovate and hire a lead-certified contractor to oversea your project
