Most parents have heard about the dangers of BPA in infant bottles, and as
such, stores usually sell BPA-free options. However, there are other
dangers that parents do not yet know about.
Disposable diapers pose a health risk to children. We have previously
reported on sanitary pads and tampons causing
endometriosis
through dioxin exposure.
Dioxins
are a byproduct of chlorine, which is used during the bleaching process.
Dioxins accumulate in the body throughout the lifetime of victims. Dioxin
exposure as a child will impede the immune system of the individual
forever. It means that they will never be as strong as they should have
been. Dioxins are responsible for a range of reproductive and
developmental problems, damaging the immune system, along with causing major
hormonal imbalances and cancer. Many infants are now exposed to dioxins
24 hours a day, and yet society wonders why girls are beginning puberty younger
than ever, and hormonal disorders are becoming increasingly common in children.
Unfortunately, dioxin is not the only issue with disposable diapers.
Sodium Polyacrylate is an absorbent gel that is responsible for absorbing
moisture inside the diaper. It was once present in tampons, but was
removed for causing Toxic Shock Syndrome. Sodium polyacrylate has
been implicated as a contributing factor of staph infections. It is a
skin irritant, because it is able to absorb all of the oils and moisture from
the skin, yielding a drying effect. It is no surprise, then, that
problems like diaper rash are almost non-existent for babies having cloth
diapers. The effects of topical exposure to sodium polyacrylate have only
been minimally studied, so we do not yet know what damage it is doing.
For the interest of our children, it is wise to err on the side of caution.
There are a variety of different
dying
agents used in diapers, ranging from indicators informing the parent of
wetness, to colored patterns for improved appearances. Infants are showing
allergic reactions to these diapers, and parents of these children are
typically unable to identify the diapers as the cause. It is not uncommon
for steroid creams to be used to treat these allergic reactions, with neither
the doctor nor parent suspecting involvement by chemical dyes.
We strongly recommend that people look into the possibility of using cloth
diapers, or at the very least, purchase unbleached, dye-free disposable diapers
at a specialty or health food store. The health of our children is worth
the minor inconvenience.
Source:
http://healthwyze.org/index.php/component/content/article/475-toxins-in-disposable-diapers-dioxin-and-sodium-polyacrylate.html
