The Chemicals Used to Make Disposables
The biggest benefit of disposable diapers is that they are able to wick moisture away from a baby's skin and lock it away. But did you ever stop and think about just how disposables can accomplish this goal? Chemicals — and lots of them. And many of these chemicals have been linked to some serious health effects.
When disposable diapers first hit the market in the 1960s, they were comprised of a plastic diaper with a lot of paper fluff inside. Today's disposables, on the other hand are constructed of a waterproof plastic outer layer, an absorbent pad with super absorbent chemicals, and an inner liner. The super absorbent chemical, sodium polyacrylate, absorbs and holds fluids in the diaper. Sodium polyacrylate crystals can absorb up to 800 times their weight in water — turning into gel when wet. This chemical was tested by the Cosmetics Review Panel (an industry-run review panel), and was found to be safe for use based on the assumption that it will not be absorbed through the skin. No studies have ever evaluated the long-term health effects of a baby's exposure to sodium polyacrylate (on her reproductive organs) for twenty-four hours a day for the first two to three years of her life.
The sodium polyacrylate used to make disposable diapers so absorbent is the same chemical that used to be found in tampons. But several decades ago, researchers linked sodium polyacrylate to toxic shock syndrome. It has been banned for use in feminine hygiene products since 1985.
Disposable diapers can also contain a volatile mixture of dyes and fragrances, which can lead to allergic reactions, asthma, and other forms of respiratory irritation in babies. In one 1999 study, mice were exposed to disposable diapers from several different brands and monitored for changes in breathing patterns. After exposure the mice showed reduced lung function similar to the symptoms of asthma. The mice that breathed emissions from cloth diapers, on the other hand, did not have these respiratory problems. The researchers also analyzed the emissions from the disposables and found several chemicals that are known to cause respiratory distress such as ethylbenzene, styrene, and toluene.
Dioxin, a toxic carcinogen, is also released during the production of disposable diapers. It is released as a byproduct of the bleaching of paper required in the manufacture of disposables. Dioxin is a persistent organic pollutant that accumulates in the environment and is not readily broken down. It can cause cancer as well as other health problems, and is found in meat, fish, dairy, and in human breast milk.
