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European Baby Dummies Contaminate with Toxic Chemical Bisphenol A, Raise Health Concerns
Tests conducted by the Czech consumer organization dTest have found alarming levels of the toxic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in baby dummies manufactured by three prominent European brands. The results raise serious health concerns for infants and young children who use these products.
Researchers purchased 19 baby dummies from various shops across the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, and online marketplaces to test their BPA content. Surprisingly, four of the dummies contained BPA, with one brand, Curaprox, exceeding the EU's maximum limit for migration by a significant margin. Another brand, Sophie la Girafe, was found to have 3 micrograms per kilogram (µg/kg) of BPA, barely above its detection limit.
The European Toy Safety Directive sets a limit of 40µg/l for BPA in soothers, while the EN 1400 standard limits it at 10µg/l. The EU has banned BPA in babies' bottles since 2011 and expanded this ban to include food containers and bottles for children under three years old in 2018.
The implications of these findings are worrying. Exposure to low levels of BPA during critical developmental periods, such as infancy, can lead to impaired sexual development, obesity, cancer, and other health issues. Children's bodies are particularly vulnerable due to their developing organs' sensitivity to disruption.
In response to the news, Curaprox has removed affected batches from the market and offered refunds to customers, while Sophie la Girafe claims its products meet EU safety standards and have not had any pacifiers in its catalogue for some time. However, experts warn that these regulations are often ambiguous and insufficient.
The lack of stringent regulation is "failing consumers," according to Karolína Brabcová of Arnika, a Czech campaign group. The EU needs to tighten its standards to protect infants from toxic chemicals like BPA.
Tests conducted by the Czech consumer organization dTest have found alarming levels of the toxic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in baby dummies manufactured by three prominent European brands. The results raise serious health concerns for infants and young children who use these products.
Researchers purchased 19 baby dummies from various shops across the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, and online marketplaces to test their BPA content. Surprisingly, four of the dummies contained BPA, with one brand, Curaprox, exceeding the EU's maximum limit for migration by a significant margin. Another brand, Sophie la Girafe, was found to have 3 micrograms per kilogram (µg/kg) of BPA, barely above its detection limit.
The European Toy Safety Directive sets a limit of 40µg/l for BPA in soothers, while the EN 1400 standard limits it at 10µg/l. The EU has banned BPA in babies' bottles since 2011 and expanded this ban to include food containers and bottles for children under three years old in 2018.
The implications of these findings are worrying. Exposure to low levels of BPA during critical developmental periods, such as infancy, can lead to impaired sexual development, obesity, cancer, and other health issues. Children's bodies are particularly vulnerable due to their developing organs' sensitivity to disruption.
In response to the news, Curaprox has removed affected batches from the market and offered refunds to customers, while Sophie la Girafe claims its products meet EU safety standards and have not had any pacifiers in its catalogue for some time. However, experts warn that these regulations are often ambiguous and insufficient.
The lack of stringent regulation is "failing consumers," according to Karolína Brabcová of Arnika, a Czech campaign group. The EU needs to tighten its standards to protect infants from toxic chemicals like BPA.