Every day there’s new information regarding chemicals and how they affect the human body, as well as the environment. We usually disregard this information for the reason that we can resist their effects. However, it is important to note that these chemicals can harm infants for the reasons that they are still not immune or haven’t adapted to the substances’ effects like us.
Parents can ensure the health and safety of their baby by starting to learn about a broad range of subject matters. While you can consider the task intimidating, you can make it easier if you are guided by the list below that contains important information about chemicals, the standards and other available tips. With this, you can make informed decisions on purchases, as well as on which companies you feel are worth supporting, and which to avoid.
Comparing US and European Standards
While the USA has achieved numerous developments, they lack the means to minimize, control, or even ban chemicals that are bad for humans and the environment. These include chemicals such as atrazine, red dye No.40, formaldehyde, and yellow dyes No.5 and No.6. Removing them from the market isn’t actually easy, even the government itself can’t. The USA still keeps these chemicals in their place for monetary, political, and human reasons.
Meanwhile, parents should go for products with the highest standards. Parents can consider European brands when buying something for kids, so they can ensure that their purchases don’t include some chemicals and medications. In this way, a parent can easily find the ideal products for their child.
Is BPA Harmful?
BPA stands for Bisphenol A. This chemical is a common ingredient in plastics, such as beverage and food containers. Currently, BPA is not fully tested as to its effects on humans, and its testing with animals is very minimal as well. According to the studies, BPA has been found to harm the body if taken in huge and/or consistent amounts. The chemical has been found to bind to the thyroid gland, though it’s yet to be seen exactly how it affects the thyroid, though given the tentative connection to obesity, attention, and behavioral problems, the likely effect would that the thyroid would work poorly and underproduce (known as hypothyroidism). Another possible threat is the danger that the chemical, especially if it is ever burned, can cause cancer. The fumes produced by products that contain BPA are quite toxic.
As this chemical is still not fully understood with its relation to living creatures and the environment, it is understandable that it should be in limited use. BPA is on the list of heavily restricted chemicals, and particular products containing it is limited in some places and banned in the entire Europe. Baby specific products that are likely to have BPA would be baby bottles and sippy cups, and the recycle symbol helps in identification. Moreover, likely products with BPA have the symbol with a “7” or “PC” written in it.
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DHA
In America, specific authorities consider Dihydroxyacetone in tanning spray safe. The product can however act a mutagen, which is a problem. When the chemical is applied to the skin, it triggers a reaction. The chemical focuses on the skin’s dead outer layer, but inhaling its fumes is considered is harmful. The effects are not backed up with solid evidences yet. Nevertheless, the chemical could trigger unpleasant results given that they are meant to change DNA.
Most people won’t be try to put a tan on their babies. The risk would come from the mothers using the product, both during pregnancy and when caring for infants, as there is an almost endless amount of physical contact between mother and baby. Mothers can avoid this chemical by simply avoiding the use any unnatural tanning methods.
Another product that should be avoided (for multiple reasons) when pregnant and nursing is wine. Dihydroxyacetone is also used in the process of making wine. It’s expected that anything that mother intakes during pregnancy or when breastfeeding, will be absorbed by the infant. Thus, taking in dihydroxyacetone as a mother means your baby will also be taking it, so avoiding it is a sensible move.
Arsenic contained in rice and Other Foods
Arsenic is a popular position that is quite involved in food production, medicine, and in lead mixing. Small amounts of the chemical are also present in the human body. In fact, safe doses of such chemical is a good stimulant, and in the 18th and 19th centuries, it was even used an as ingredient in pharmaceutical drugs.
It was later discovered that the substance can also be mixed with lead to produce paint and batteries. Manufacturers of glass also include arsenic as an ingredient, but was later forbidden because of its bad effects on the environment. Moreover, a less dangerous form of the substance has been used as food to chickens for quicker growth. Nevertheless, their systems make the substance ever more harmful.
While you can’t find arsenic in many products anymore since its official removal, they may still be found in some food items. The first food would be rice. Studies conducted have mentioned that consuming rice on a daily basis could increase arsenic levels in your body.
Others foods that include higher levels of arsenic would include brussel sprouts, dark meat fish, poultry, beer, and wine. Arsenic found in these products are far more concentrated. However, foods like brussel sprouts and fish still have many nutrients in them. Whether you are a pregnant or breastfeeding mother, or someone who is taking care of a child, it’s important to avoid these foods on the table.
How to Avoid Lead in Baby Products?
Considered a very harmful toxin throughout the country, lead has a detrimental effect on anyone exposed to it Older buildings who have been painted heavily may still have lining of lead paint on wall surfaces. If you are living in an old building, don’t let your infant crawl or be on a floor uncovered because there may be paint chips they could ingest or they could also inhale dirt which has been exposed to lead based paint.
Your body originally has small amounts of lead, like arsenic, but when you are exposed to lead, you can be overdosed. Lead poisoning can cause cancer, mental disorders, pain, weakness, kidney failure, and many other symptoms and problems. Premature births are likely to be experienced when women are heavily exposed to lead during pregnancy.
More so than adults, children are highly susceptible to lead poisoning. Lead absorption is faster in infants’ bodies than adults’. The bad news is the lead content of baby food is pretty much higher than that of other food. Knowing this, parents should take extra precautions and do careful research into food and toy brands to ensure the products are not made with, or around lead. One may also want to watch out for food that may have been planted in soil that is concentrated with lead. One of the reasons brussel sprouts (and several other vegetables) run higher in lead is because the sulfur they produce attracts the lead, allowing the vegetable to better absorb it.
Methanol aka Formaldehyde
Also known as methanol, formaldehyde is a common chemical that has been brought into question as of late due to the many concerns over its affects on the human body. Though the fears via ingestion are fairly low, especially compared to other chemicals, the risks caused by inhalation are high, and can lead to illness. The chemical is used a tissue preservative in many places, as it greatly delays decomposition, though it does not completely prevent it.
Formaldehyde was formerly an ingredient in baby shampoo and conditioner The carcinogen is known to cause allergy-type reactions, including shortness of breath, headaches, and nausea.
In Europe formaldehyde is highly regulated when it comes to baby products in particular in an attempt to keep them from ingesting or inhaling the possible toxin. Parents should look to keep formaldehyde exposure to a minimum, which may require research into companies to understand their stance on formaldehyde use in their products.
Tips on Avoiding Harsh Chemicals
Young children are close to numerous dangers out there. Due to their size and faster rates of absorption, they are far more prone to falling prey to toxins that they may come in contact with. Parents should be prepare some knowledge on how to ensure safety to their youngsters. There are companies who are against dangerous chemicals because they care for their consumers as well as the environment. For this reason, they are likely to have the ideal options. The location of these companies may not be in your country, so take time to research which countries support treatment of these potential toxins.
Considering the environment is important here, both the place of production, and the home environment. These factors matters to your infants.
Parents can minimize the risks by simply purchasing products that are more organic and only have a few ingredients. With this, understanding the things brought inside the home and the food items taken by the baby is simpler. The contents in baby food should be limited to food and water; water and carrots in the mush for instance. Avoid preservatives. It is best to choose organic clothing whose components are also grown in an organic environment. You won’t have to worry about dangerous toxins if the clothes, toys, and food of your baby as well as your furniture is less exposed to chemicals. By being diligent and keen on researching, you can make your baby a lot safer.
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