Recall Mania
Though it feels otherwise, the recalls are nothing new. Since 1998, there have been at least 29 toy recalls for lead (11 since July 2006 alone), which is used in paint and dyes because it brightens colors, is fast-drying, and lasts a long time. A neurotoxin that can lower IQ and affect brain development, lead was phased out of gasoline and house paint 30 years ago in the U.S., but we're still grappling with it because it's cheap and not well regulated, especially in imports.
Toxic chemicals in plastic are also oldish news, but the recent furor is founded on two currently hogging the media spotlight due to their prevalence: bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates. Both are proven endocrine disruptors, meaning that they can mimic or block hormones that regulate the body. This disruption can be especially harmful to fetuses and small children, since their systems are still developing. "Tiny bits of these things can be of concern," says pediatrician Harvey Karp, author of The Happiest Baby on the Block, who lobbies to rid toys of toxins. "One signal saying 'Turn right' at the wrong time can affect development."
"Certain phthalates have a high level of reproductive toxicity," says Shanna Swan, Ph.D., director of the Center for Reproductive Epidemiology at the University of Rochester School of Dentistry and Medicine, who conducted a 2005 study that linked prenatal exposure to phthalates to changes in the human male reproductive system. "They can decrease fetal testosterone and affect sperm in adults." In hundreds of animal studies, BPA has been linked to lower sperm counts, increased infertility, and early puberty. And one recent rodent study by the Fox Chase Cancer Center, an independent nonprofit, showed that it can also raise the risk of breast cancer.
"The good news about these chemicals is that, unlike the old persistent compounds like DDT, phthalates and BPA pass through the body quickly," says Swan. "The bad news is that they're pretty stable in our lives." BPA is found in dental fillings and canned foods and soda, as well as in #7 plastic, from which many bottles are made (including baby bottles, cuing the frenzy). Phthalates are in plastic bottles and toys, skin-care products, and cosmetics.
"The baby bottle has been the great public illuminator—there's nothing more empowering than feeding your children and watching them grow," says Christopher Gavigan, executive director of Healthy Child Healthy World. "Knowing you could be harming them at the same time is mind-boggling." Which is why, across the boards, one question is omni-present: "Does anyone have any ideas as to how to avoid this in the future?!" Yes! Me!
Next Page: The Preemptive Strike
