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Survey, emission and health assessment of chemical substances in baby products 1 Survey1.1 PurposeThe purpose of the survey is to monitor which baby products that exist on the Danish market and to have a test related basis for evaluating if these products contain chemicals including colourants that are of health concern. The survey on which products in the category baby products that exist on the market and what materials the products are made of is a prerequisite to select and purchase products for a further chemical examination and to evaluate the health risk in relation to the use of the products. 1.2 DelimitationThe registration of baby products concerns articles intended for babies up to 1 year of age. The registration has primarily concerned articles of textile and plastic with padding or stuffing. In addition, also baby products of flexible foam materials are included. The following product types were not included in the registration: Baby clothing, bed linen (bolster case), shaped plastic objects (bath tubs, chamber pots, comforters, baby plates), baby cutlery, and toys, wooden beds (cots) and babycare agents/remedies. 1.3 ProcedureThe survey is performed by:
Information has been retrieved about the type of baby products which are sold by retailers and through the Internet. In addition inquiries were made on which materials these baby products were made of to evaluate the health risk and further to acquire a basis to select and purchase baby products for a further chemical examination. 1.4 Implementation1.4.1 Visits to retailersRetailers / ware houses in the vicinities of Copenhagen were visited. The visited stores have been specialty stores for baby and child equipment, furniture department stores with sections for baby and toddler equipment, and super markets (convenience stores) with departments for baby and child equipment. At the same time leaflets are collected when possible. This was performed in order to get information on materials in the individual baby products. 1.4.2 Internet searchSearch is made on www.krak.dk under Trade for the groups ”babyartikler” (baby articles) and ”barnevogne” (perambulators) and via Google using the search word ”babyudstyr” (babycare articles). The results of the searches were studied and based on company profile information the most relevant companies were selected. If a company or enterprise homepage existed they were visited also. 1.4.3 Obtaining information by questionnaireA questionnaire was sent to a series of retailers, importers, and producers. Eighteen selected enterprises found by Internet search or from our general knowledge among others by advertisements and articles on studies on consumer products. The questionnaire is prepared in Danish and English, respectively, to make it possible also to obtain responses from foreign producers. 1.4.3.1 Preparation of the questionnaire studyThe questionnaire is prepared based on the general experience and knowledge in the field of the Danish Technological Institute combined with information obtained from visits in the retail stores including obtained leaflets and information found on the Internet. The questionnaires contain the following questions:
Questionnaires are sent to a total of 18 enterprises. 11 companies have responded totally or partially on the questionnaire at a different degree of detail to the given information. The questionnaire has been responded to by 4 nationwide department stores with departments for baby products, just as 6 importers and producers with a relatively limited selection of goods have presented information. One importer has referred to his mother company which is the producer. On the contrary, several of the larger baby equipment enterprises that are specialty dealers, importers or producers of baby and children articles have either not responded with information or – as was the case for 2 enterprises – responded with more general information. One of the larger players on the market has announced that it required too large resources to respond to the questionnaire and that the requested information were not available. This was elaborated by telephone contact. Another larger player has contacted the Danish Technological Institute and stated that it was a very labour-intensive task and that all their products observed ”all environment requirements and EU standards including Eco-Tex”. At the same time this company expressed great discontent as the project report would not state the names of the design, dealer or company for the baby products to be examined. According to the company a ”bad” result for an anonymous product in the consumers eyes recoil on all designs of the same type. (The company has not presented any information). 1.5 Results of the surveyAcquaintance was made with a long series of articles or products intended for babies up to 1 year of age. Below is presented the results of the registration of type of baby products, the products material contents and the registered consumption distributed on product types. 1.5.1 Registration of baby products on the marketFollowing baby products are registered:
1.5.2 Material compositionBased on information from labels, tags and leaflets, and from our evaluation based on material knowledge to textiles, the individual composition of materials in the baby products are registered as follows: Nursing pads/-cushions/-pillows Carrycots/perambulator upholsteries Bunting/ carry-/sleeping bags Baby carriers Pillows for feeding baby Baby chairs and loose chair linings/cushions, cradle seats, sedan chairs, baby bounders Bed edges and head protection in perambulators Baby mattresses and mattress pads Baby eiderdowns/duvets and pillows Baby car seat Padded baby seats and baby supports to cycle trailers and walking/running trolleys Wet-sheets Foam wash cloths 1.5.3 Consumption divided into product typesSeveral of the nationwide department stores have reported sold amounts of their baby products, just as a series of minor producers have reported produced number of a few baby products. This information is presented in Table 1.1. Table 1.1 Number of sold units reported in the questionnaire responses and from telephone calls
Since several of the larger enterprises which specialises in baby and childcare products have not responded with detailed specific information it was not immediate possible to estimate the actual consumption of the individual types of baby products and of the individual trade marks. Nor via the Statistics Denmark is it possible to obtain a number of baby products either as a collected group or as individual types. However, based on information on the number of births are estimated approximately 65,000 newborns per year. The trade of product types and trade marks is therefore estimated from general market knowledge and catalogues, supplemented with there information received from the questionnaires and the number of yearly newborns Some of the products may due to their durability be used for more than one child. In return, supplementary products per child will exist in e.g. child care centres and day-care facilities and perhaps also at grand parents. The number of purchased new perambulators per year is evaluated to be considerably lower than the number of newly born at an estimate of 25-40,000 perambulators per year. This is caused by the perambulators being relatively expensive products and that most perambulators have a durability that causes them to be used for at least 2 children in total. For other less expensive and less durable baby products the number of pieces per year is estimated to be closer to the number of new-borns at an estimate of 40-60,000 pieces. 1.5.4 Evaluation of materialsThe materials are evaluated based on the Danish Technological Institute’s knowledge and experience of textiles, plastics and foam, and other upholstery and stuffing ,materials. The evaluation is performed with consideration of the content of chemical substances known or under reasoned suspicion to be harmful to health. Products with stuffing of polyester fibre fill do not present the same risk of harmful substances as stuffing of polyurethane foam (PU) or polystyrene pellets. Polyurethane foam and polystyrene pellets may contain flame retardants (in case brome based preparations) and may also release volatile organic compounds that may be harmful. Polyester fibre fill may contain the heavy metal antimony which is used as catalyst. Furthermore the polyurethane foam (PU) can not be precluded to contain the organic tin compounds dibutyltin (DBT) and tributyltin (TBT) added as antibacterial treatment. Products with a cover of plastic or plastic treated surface may contain phthalates (PVC plasticizers). It has also been found that such products contain the biological active substance triclosane (bacterial growth inhibitor). Besides that also flame retardant substances may sometimes be present. Cover of fabric with a printed pattern and/or has an impregnation or surface treatment may contain formaldehyde. Both coloured and printed fabrics may contain heavy metals and harmful amines from azocolourants and pigments. Coloured polyester fabrics may contain allergenic dispersion colourants. All cover fabrics may contain residues of chlorinated phenols and OPP (ortho-phenyl phenol). Cover fabrics of textile may be impregnated with flame retardants but it is more likely for baby products unless a specific declaration of contents is available. Cover fabrics may also be impregnated with PFOS compounds as water repellent treatment. 1.5.5 Criteria for selection of baby products for analysesBabies will be exposed to effects from a possible content of harmful chemicals and colorants in products by uptake through the skin, by direct contact, by sucking on the products or by inhaling the volatiles or released particles (dust) from the material itself. Essential factors in the selection of products have been: The time a baby may be expected to be exposed to the product and the exposed surface area of the baby in contact with the product during use and how certain it will be that the baby sucks on it. Knowledge of materials has also been included in the selection. Furthermore, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency has emphasised that for each type of product selected, an article in both the less expensive as well as the expensive end of the scale of prices was selected. 1.5.6 Selected productsIn co-operation with the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, the following types of baby products are selected for a further examination of their content of chemical substances and colorants harmful or of concern to the health:
Each selected baby product is represented by 2 different articles or trade marks, for the disposable foam wash cloths, however, 3 different articles. Thus, a total of 13 products have been selected for further examination. The products are presented in Table 1.2. Table 1.2 Summary of selected baby products
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