www.incontinentsupport.org

What is most frightening about disposable diapers is the unknown or passively ignored presence of toxic chemicals. One such chemical is dioxin, a highly toxic by-product of the bleaching process. Secondly, sodium polyacrylate, the clear gel-like substance you often find on your baby's genitals after a diaper change, gives disposable diapers their super absorbant characteristic. Its use in tampons was banned in 1985 because of its link to Toxic Shock Syndrome. And most recently, TBT or Tributylin was found in disposable diapers in Europe. TBT is ranked by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the most toxic substances in use in consumer products in the world today. It is a biocide and is used in killing or preventing the growth of bacteria. And although the WHO has also revealed that the amount of TBT found in disposable diapers poses no threat to the health of a baby, the question still arises: Why is such a toxic substance needed in a diaper? And furthermore, even though the TBT in diapers does not adversely effect those wearing the diapers, what about the safety of ground water from decomposing diapers in landfills?

Just a FYI Papa

What's more, new scientific studies have linked disposable diapers and their harsh perfumes and toxic substances to the increase of asthma in today's society. Laboratory rats exposed to disposable diapers straight out of the package have suffered increased eye, nose and throat irritation, as well as bronchioconstriction similar to that of an asthma attack (according to Rosalind C. Anderson, lead author of the report "Acute Respiratory Effects of Diaper Emissions", Archives of Environmental Health, 54, October 1999).
disposable diapers.

What You Need to Know About Disposable Diapers

Dioxins are the by-product of the bleaching process that occurs when making the diaper. Dioxins are poisonous and have been linked to birth defects and cancer 1 .

Sodium polyacrylate is an absorbent, clear gel you can sometimes see on your baby’s bottom when you’re changing his diaper. Its amazing absorbent properties to soak up vast amount of liquid was why it was chosen for disposable diapers. Unfortunately, it can cause skin irritation and was banned from being used in tampons due to its link to Toxic Shock Syndrome2.

Tributyltin (TBT) is used in killing bacteria (also known as a biocide). TBT remains a major ingredient in disposable diapers, including Procter and Gamble’s Pampers sold in Germany, as discovered by Greenpeace:


“Greenpeace’s scientific test results contradict a statement by Procter & Gamble, in which the company last Friday denied that its nappies were contaminated with organotin compounds. Greenpeace toxics expert Thilo Maack said: “The reaction of Procter & Gamble is a scandal. The company is downplaying the danger instead of actively searching for the source of TBT in Pampers. It is absolutely irresponsible to expose babies to these extremely toxic substances.

“Fact is that TBT is one of the most toxic substances ever made, and it is being spread through the environment. It can be absorbed through the skin and contaminates the environment as well as people.”³

And also please remember that most of the sources that are for using cloth diapers seem forget that the increased amount of drinking quality water that is used to wash the diapers is just as bad for the environment and animals.

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When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade.

It was just a FYI to let people be aware of the unregulated dangers. If you really believe that using drinking water to wash diapers is a a downside - research how much water is used to make disposables and then what happens to the waste/heavily poluted water after it is used. I also use disposable it is just to convient not to. But saying washing cloth diapers is bad for the environment - there are bio safe detergents - is like saying eating at KFC or McDonnalds is better than cooking your own food because you waste precious resourses like cooking gas. DUH! We live in a world where quick and easy is the route most take. Fast food is now a staple of American families. As are disposable diapers and much much more.
Does anyone really believe that fast food is a better choice? Does anyone also believe that chemical laden paper products are safer than cotton? We turn a blind eye to all that is not easy and quick. ADHD and Autism and Asthma in children has skyrocketed from 150,000 cases in the seventies (disposables first big year) to over 2,000,000 today. Hmmm any corilation or pure coincidence? Interesting thought. As I said, I use cloth all i can but still use disposables also for convience. And my cancer and heart disease is Dioxin based! Makes me an idiot. But I am also part of the convient is easier group a lot also. The info i posted was only meant to inform not dictate a diaper arguement or case or choice. We are all adults and make our own decisions. They just should be made with as much info as possible. Papa

It was just a FYI to let people be aware of the unregulated dangers. If you really believe that using drinking water to wash diapers is a a downside - research how much water is used to make disposables and then what happens to the waste/heavily poluted water after it is used. I also use disposable it is just to convient not to. But saying washing cloth diapers is bad for the environment - there are bio safe detergents - is like saying eating at KFC or McDonnalds is better than cooking your own food because you waste precious resourses like cooking gas. DUH! We live in a world where quick and easy is the route most take. Fast food is now a staple of American families. As are disposable diapers and much much more.
Does anyone really believe that fast food is a better choice? Does anyone also believe that chemical laden paper products are safer than cotton? We turn a blind eye to all that is not easy and quick. ADHD and Autism and Asthma in children has skyrocketed from 150,000 cases in the seventies (disposables first big year) to over 2,000,000 today. Hmmm any corilation or pure coincidence? Interesting thought. As I said, I use cloth all i can but still use disposables also for convience. And my cancer and heart disease is Dioxin based! Makes me an idiot. But I am also part of the convient is easier group a lot also. The info i posted was only meant to inform not dictate a diaper arguement or case or choice. We are all adults and make our own decisions. They just should be made with as much info as possible. Papa

I'm not saying there are no dangerous chemicals in disposable products. I was merely saying that both methods have an environmental impact somewhere.

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When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade.

Papa,
I don't know if I could make the correlation between asthma, autism, and ADHD and the chemicals that are in diapers. While it may be possible, I just don't think diapers are to blame for all those illnesses. I think we have more cases of those illnesses in present times because we now know more about them and their symptoms. We are able to accurately diagnose those illnesses with todays medical technology. I have Bipolar Disorder...but I can't blame that on diapers. It is due to a chemical inbalance in my brain. I also have asthma, but that runs in my family. I just can't make the correlation between diapers and those illnesses. Maybe I'm wrong?! Only time will tell.

Thanks allot PAPA I'm sitting here in an attends waist band now feeling dirt and I just put it on

To go off the deep end on just something that you wear on the outside of your body. As compared to what people consume in their diet on a daily basis is a little hard to take

I mean come on take a look at what diet soda has been linked to. Heck I'll take my disposible diapers any day over that. Not to mention what MSG can do to ya. Granted many products advertise no MSG now days but in the restaurant chains their are many that still use it today

I'd have to agree with Don that the way these disorders are diagnosed as to the way it was done in the 70's is far and away much better today then back then. Then again you should also add how much it is over diagnosed and the fact that the population is much higher today then what it was then. Also another major link you rarely hear about is the vaccinations they give children today I've read many studies that link autism to vaccinations early in the life of a child And don't get me started on the flu shot (which has never been proven to work) What about women that smoke while pregnant. That can lead to all sorts of problems like asthma. Granted smoking while pregnant is way down from what it use to be.

Diapers are only one small portion of the problems that landfills face
........................Sandy

Interesting post. I wear cloth as much as possible but also wear disposables for travelling, convenience, etc... I use biodegradeable detergent for washing diapers which cuts down on contamination of ground water. I know that it takes a few years for a disposable to break down in a landfill but they are supposed to break down. I never really gave thought to the chemicals in said disposable and whether or not they break down before getting into the ground water. Just the shear volume of all the disposable diapers thrown into our landfills every day is, I'm sure, mindboggling. I probably use a dozen or fewer dispoables a week but just 12 diapers take the better part of a half of a garbage bag. I'd have to guess that if I were using disposables 24/7 that I'd be filling a couple garbage bags every week. Take that times all the incontinent adults using disposable diapers not to mention all the disposable baby diapers used every week and you have quite a heap. I highly doubt I'll ever quit using disposables even though I know they are not the best thing for the enviroment. Sometimes they are just easier to deal with than cloth.

My post was to inform not to dictate what type of diaper to use. Filling land fills with diapers and their contents was not even mentioned. I regret posting it already and will refrain from posting future such issues. I posted it to let people be aware - I am affected by Agent Orange (Dioxin) which no one alerted me to as they sprayed it on me and most vets of Vietnam. Ignorence is bliss. Use what ever makes you happy, eat what ever is conveinent. Papa

Hmmmm. I didn't take anything in your original post remotely trying to tell someone what they should use. Maybe they're reading too much into it? I dunno.

I found the information interesting. Some things didn't make sense, but - That's no reflection on you. You simply shared what you found.

Don't let that deter you from sharing info. Let people take from it what they will.

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Just my 2 cents, which ain't worth a penny in today's economy.....

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Michael