An advocacy group based in Oakland has filed a legal complaint against national retailers Target, Wal-Mart and Babies-R-Us for selling baby products containing cancer-causing chemicals and violating safety standards set by the state.
The move from Center for Environmental Health (CEH) in Oakland comes after the organization detected high levels of a cancer-causing flame retardant, chlorinated Tris phosphate (TDCPP or Tris) in different types of foam products used for babies like nap mats, changing pads, crib mattress pads and infant sleepers.
CEH tested samples of the baby products and found 16 baby and children's products with high levels of Tris phosphate. Many of these products are sold to daycares nationwide.
Exposure to the chemical has been linked to many health problems for a long time. In 1977, citing genetic mutations, it was banned from being used in children's pajamas. In 2011, the California state highlighted the risks associated with the chemical by adding it to the list of cancer-causing chemicals. Federal authorities from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), after examining the hidden risks associated with Tris phosphate, found the chemical posing "a serious health risk to consumers."
Apart from that, many previous studies have shown the chemical to cause hormone disruption, developmental toxicity and cancer. A study published in 2011 found children more highly exposed to the chemical through baby products than through furniture.
Instead of all these warnings, Tris phosphate continued to appear in many children's products that do not require flame retardants.
"Infants and young children, who are at critical stages of their development, should not be sleeping on products doused with these ticking chemical time bombs," Michael Green, Executive Director of the Center for Environmental Health, said in a news release. "It's past time for companies to take steps towards eliminating these harmful chemicals from products for our children and families."
