Keep Your Baby Safe From PBDE"s
Well very recently there have been several new reports regarding the dangers of PBDE's or Polybrominated diphenyl ethers.
I am sure you are asking what are PBDE's? Simply put they are chemicals that are used on various products as flame retardants.
They are used in a wide array of products such as electronics, building materials, furniture, motor vehicles, all sorts of plastics including children toys, and in clothing just to name a few.
What is most alarming is that since the very early 1990's scientists have raised concerns regarding the safety of PBDE's.
Yet they are still used in almost every product you find in your home.
People are primarily exposed in two ways, through ingestion of food and by inhalation of dust.
Studies in Canada have found significant amounts of PBDE's in common foods such as salmon, ground beef, butter, and cheese.
Since the late 90's studies started to show that children in the US had higher levels of PBDE's than adults.
Which should have been a red flag at the time and yet these chemicals were still commonly used.
A recent study by Colombia University looked into how PBDE's bio-accumulate in fatty tissues, and breast milk, and the effects they have on new-born children.
Their research found that children with higher concentrations of PBDE's in their umbilical cord blood at birth scored lower on tests of mental and physical development between the ages of one and six.
Developmental effects were particularly evident at four years of age, when verbal and full IQ scores were reduced 5.
5 to 8 points for those with the highest prenatal exposures.
With all that we know about these chemicals and he harmful effects it is hard to believe that they are still in use.
A handful of states have passed their own laws that ban the use of PBDE's in products.
Which is either sad or good depending on how you look at it.
It's good that they have taken the initiative to do something, but its pathetic that the federal government is inept to do so.
EPA has established a "safe' daily exposure level.
Isn't that reassuring.
If you have children or will soon be expecting baby, take maters into your own hands to protect your child.
Do research online, buy products that are certified to not have PBDE's.
Take a look at purchasing Organic clothing that does not contain any harmful chemicals.
Also take a look at anything that they can put in their mouth.
Which if you have a little one you know that really includes everything.
Don't wait for someone to make changes that you can already do yourself.
I am sure you are asking what are PBDE's? Simply put they are chemicals that are used on various products as flame retardants.
They are used in a wide array of products such as electronics, building materials, furniture, motor vehicles, all sorts of plastics including children toys, and in clothing just to name a few.
What is most alarming is that since the very early 1990's scientists have raised concerns regarding the safety of PBDE's.
Yet they are still used in almost every product you find in your home.
People are primarily exposed in two ways, through ingestion of food and by inhalation of dust.
Studies in Canada have found significant amounts of PBDE's in common foods such as salmon, ground beef, butter, and cheese.
Since the late 90's studies started to show that children in the US had higher levels of PBDE's than adults.
Which should have been a red flag at the time and yet these chemicals were still commonly used.
A recent study by Colombia University looked into how PBDE's bio-accumulate in fatty tissues, and breast milk, and the effects they have on new-born children.
Their research found that children with higher concentrations of PBDE's in their umbilical cord blood at birth scored lower on tests of mental and physical development between the ages of one and six.
Developmental effects were particularly evident at four years of age, when verbal and full IQ scores were reduced 5.
5 to 8 points for those with the highest prenatal exposures.
With all that we know about these chemicals and he harmful effects it is hard to believe that they are still in use.
A handful of states have passed their own laws that ban the use of PBDE's in products.
Which is either sad or good depending on how you look at it.
It's good that they have taken the initiative to do something, but its pathetic that the federal government is inept to do so.
EPA has established a "safe' daily exposure level.
Isn't that reassuring.
If you have children or will soon be expecting baby, take maters into your own hands to protect your child.
Do research online, buy products that are certified to not have PBDE's.
Take a look at purchasing Organic clothing that does not contain any harmful chemicals.
Also take a look at anything that they can put in their mouth.
Which if you have a little one you know that really includes everything.
Don't wait for someone to make changes that you can already do yourself.
Source...