Detoxing Your Child's Room
by Beth Yimoriginally published August 2008
Between 1997 and 2005, the number of asthma cases in children 12 years and older increased by 500,000 in Canada alone. According to a school census, about a third of elementary students claimed they had allergies, with British Columbians having a higher percentage than the national average. Both asthma and allergies are a growing concern for parents and the causes may be closer to home than you think.
Increasingly, modern day conditions such as asthma, allergies, chemical sensitivity, learning challenges and hyper activity are being linked to chemical exposure, with some of these toxins increasing risks of cancer, DNA anomalies and hormone disruptions. Many of these toxins are found where kids live, at home and at school. Though removing all toxins from your child’s environment may seem daunting, creating a safe zone in their bedroom, where they spend the most time, is as easy as 1-2-3!
The first step is to take a toxic inventory of your child’s room. Is the furniture off-gassing (slow release of chemicals from materials) toxic formaldehyde and benzene? Does her mattress have foam with volatile organic compounds (VOCs)? Is the flooring toxin free? Could toys be contaminated with lead, mercury or cadmium? Finally, are there any perfumed products such as air fresheners, make up, perfumes or candles in the room?
Focus on the worst offenders: furniture, bedding, toys, flooring, cleaning products, deodorizers and window coverings. Once you’ve taken a good inventory of his bedroom you’ll be ready to move on to the next step: researching your options.
Nearly every object in your home could impact your child’s health. Fortunately there are options. The green movement has motivated many manufacturers to either change their production processes or convert to more sustainable products. This is a real benefit to the consumer as it provides options in alternative building products, household cleaning supplies, furnishings and toys. After you create your inventory, research each of the above-listed areas. Give yourself lots of options from the most expensive alternative to the least, depending on what your budget allows. Consider these points as you do your research:
Was the product harvested and produced using sustainable practices? Products such as bamboo are renewable and in many cases are made into products without the use of toxic chemicals.
How far did the product travel before it got to your home? Less travel time means fewer carbon emissions.
How long will it take for the product to off-gas? Laminate floors will off-gas in the first two weeks while vinyl flooring may continue for the lifetime of the product.
Can you purchase the product second hand? Buying “gently used” means many of the chemicals have already burned off.
Is there a simpler, less toxic alternative? For instance, instead of purchasing expensive painted building blocks, make your own from non-treated scrap wood.
Go for quality that lasts. Buy products that won’t break down after a few years.
Once you’ve created your inventory and researched your options, it’s time to prioritize. Toxins hide in the most unusual places. We don’t expect children’s toys to be harmful to their health, but they can be. According to The Consumers Action Guide to Toxic Chemicals in Toys, lead was detected in 35 per cent of toys. Flooring is just as bad and your kids spend a lot of time crawling around on it. What do you choose to change first? The decision isn’t easy and becomes one that weighs time and resources against possible health impact.
FlooringCarpets are a toxic soup of chemicals. Two prime suspects are styrene and butadiene which combine to form a latex adhesive. The combination of these two chemicals, found in 95 per cent of carpets, creates a latex that can act as a neurotoxin causing nerve damage. Other chemicals in carpets, intended for mold and stain resistance, have been reported as causing neurological damage and/or emotional problems.
Laminate floorings may contain formaldehydes or VOCs and during the off-gassing process for a couple of weeks after installation, they may emit higher levels of toxins. Also, few laminate products use Forest-Stewardship Council-certified wood, meaning the wood used may not have come from sustainably harvested wood.
Many people are choosing to use hardwood for its smooth, easy to clean flat surface and warm, inviting look. However, hardwood contains solvents and wood preservatives that may cause allergic reactions.
Vinyl flooring is a synthetic product which may contain Polyvinyl chloride or PVC. When it burns it creates two extremely hazardous substances: hydrogen chloride gas and dioxin and some 100 different toxins. Dioxin is one of the most dangerous substances known. It can cause cancer and reproductive disorders.
The best choice for a child’s bedroom flooring is renewable products such as cork, marmoleum and/or natural-fibre carpets. If your budget doesn’t cover the costs of new flooring you can always remove the old, toxic flooring and paint the plywood or cover it with a natural-fibre area rug.
MattressYour child spends up to 10 hours a day in her bed, nose pressed close to very toxic chemicals. Government regulations require mattresses be treated with flame retardants, but some mattresses are also treated with pesticides to kill dust mites, and formaldehyde. “Formaldehyde,” according to allergist Dr. Dan Tucker, “is the major component in embalming fluid. It kills things… and enough of it kills people.” Tucker also says researchers have found some of the chemicals from mattresses in fatty tissue, including the brain.
Finding non-toxic alternatives for a mattress can be challenging. Organic mattresses made with 100 per cent organic cotton are available, but may have chemicals added during processing. Horsehair and lamb’s wool are on the market, but beware if you have allergies. The bottom line is if it smells funny to you or your child it may not be the right mattress.
Don’t forget to consider your child’s plastic mattress pad. Polyurethane will off-gas similar to flooring. One hundred per cent cotton or wool pads soak up moisture as well as add warmth and coziness. Check out the resource list for help.
FurnitureThe bookcase, night stand, head board and toy chest can all pose a potential health risk to your child. If they are made with particle board, wood veneer or plywood, then certain adhesives have been used in their manufacture. Formaldehyde is a type of VOC and is readily emitted into the air. It is colourless and odourless and can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. The Environmental Protection Agency considers formaldehyde a “probable human carcinogen.”
You can eliminate the threat of VOCs in one of several ways:
Use a non-toxic lacquer that prevents off-gassing. (See resource list below).
Exchange these products for ones made of solid wood or formaldehyde-free plywood.
Add an air purifier to your child’s room.
Toys Testing on toys by the Ecology Center showed that lead is used in 35 per cent of the products tested. Some levels are over 100 times the recommended exposure. Other chemicals found were cadmium, arsenic and mercury, in levels above the recommended amount. In addition to heavy metals and poison, plastics pose a threat to children.
PVC plastic is an environmental nightmare. It creates hazards in every aspect of its development, from manufacture to disposal and not just to human health, but to the environment as well. Additives like phthalates are added to the plastic to make it flexible, but they can leach out, impacting your child’s health and the health of the environment.
Safe toys are possible and some manufacturers are making the choice to avoid using unnecessary toxic chemicals. The Ecology Center’s website (www.healthytoys.org) has a wealth of information on what to look for in non-toxic toys.
ScentsDeodorizers, perfumes, air fresheners, scented candles and the like pose a significant threat to children. Many contain phthalates which help disperse fragrance. Research has show that prolonged exposure can disrupt hormones and cause reproductive anomalies. This toxin can be found in any non-natural product that contains scent and soft plastics, in bedding and some flooring. Instead of using a deodorizer, try baking soda to absorb odors or natural essential oils for a refreshing scent.
Doris Rapp, a pediatric allergist and author of Is This Your Child’s World, says “our present environment is causing a growing number of children to routinely feel unwell.” She suggests that environmental toxins could be creating the increase in cases of ADD and ADHD as well as behaviour and learning challenges.
Creating a safe zone, a place that minimizes your children’s exposure to chemical poisons, will allow them to develop and grow and reach their optimal potential.
Resourceswww.healthychild.com/natural-baby-crib-mattress.htm www.greenbuildingsupply.com www.healthytoys.com www.organicconsumer.org
Beth Yim lives in Nanaimo with her husband and two children. She is dedicated to creating a sustainable future for her children and educating individuals in healthy lifestyle choices. Visit www.agelesswarrior.com.
