So even the early beginnings of trying to learn to be a parent already have me a bit exhausted about all the dangers lurking out there. Lurking in totally stupid places. Like my kid's clothing.
A mother's group I participate in alerted me to new legislation that the US is looking to pass requiring testing of all children's clothing (under age 12) to be certified lead free. Lead is primarily a concern where plastics are used, because it can be used in the plastics production process, so authorities are mostly looking at zippers, appliques, and other plastic parts on kid's clothing.
While this is a great idea at face value, the way the legislation is written will almost certainly drive small scale at-home producers (Wammies: "work at home moms") out of the market because they cannot afford testing costs, and will also decimate thrift stores and the used clothing market, which many lower income families rely heavily on. The law would apply broadly to all categories of clothing, including those for which we have zero reason to suspect the presence of lead, like certified organic undyed cloth.
So that one is a big catch 22. Meanwhile, this big, possibly problematic bill will likely go through to protect against lead, while at the same time there is another totally awesome flammable carcinogen and neurotoxin that is merrily sitting in baby's clothes: formaldehyde.
Yucko. In my mind formaldehyde is associated with dead bodies and nasty cigarette additives. But clothing? apparently so. Especially clothing made in China.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency characterizes formaldehyde as "a colorless, pungent-smelling gas, [that] can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, and difficulty in breathing in some humans exposed at elevated levels (above 0.1 parts per million)...It has also been shown to cause cancer in animals and may cause cancer in humans."
The World Health Organization states "exposure to formaldehyde in concentrations of 20 parts per million can cause eye, skin and nasal irritations, asthmas and cancer." So how much was found in baby clothes?
Up to 18,000 ppm. That's right: A New Zealand study found levels of formaldehyde in baby clothing and blankets that was 900 times the recommended safe levels. In fact, the lowest level found in the study was 230 ppm, still more than ten times the level considered safe by WHO, and many times greater than the level the EPA says can cause problems. And in the US we have absolutely no laws against this, no laws requiring that people be warned of the presence of formaldehyde, no agency testing clothing routinely or randomly to assure safety.
So I sorted through our baby clothes and about 2/3 of them are, of course, made in China. Some of it is unavoidable I suppose. The recommendations are to air clothing out, and to wash it (leave it to soak over night) to reduce concentrations.
Awesome. So if I am lucky the clothes we put our kiddo in might just pickle the little guy.
More sources:
World Net Daily
Ask.com
SAF Baby
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