EcoLiving Ideas

By Sara Barz on Aug 10, 2008

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It is the greatest fear of any parent that something should happen to your child while driving. As of 2002, this is why the federal government mandated abundant hooks and snaps, pads and head protection, chest fasteners and the entire LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) on all American infant and convertible car seats. However, as the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan investigated in a 2007 study, sometimes the car seat itself can be a danger to your child’s physical development via over-exposure to dangerous chemicals and heavy metals.

A Greener Seat

On www.HealthyCar.org, the Ecology Center details their findings on the study’s 62 evaluated models of infant, convertible, and booster car seats as well as provides a search engine for consumers to look-up new products. The Center used an X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometry device to determine amounts of Bromine, Chlorine and Lead as well as over ten other different toxic substances, heavy metals and allergens. The evidence of Bromine and Chlorine indicate the presence of brominated flame-retardant and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) respectively, both of which correlate to many documented negative neurological and reproductive side-effects in humans.

The Ecology Center rated the car seats on a scale of zero to five. The seats of least concern garnered ratings of a one or below while the seats of most concern rate from a three to a five depending on the risk of exposure to the dangerous substances.

Non-Toxic Non-Required Reading

How To Green Your Baby by TreeHugger

Eco Child’s Play Blog

SafetyBeltSafe USA

CarSeatData.org

Environmental Working Group for Parents

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