Killer Cribs Report

 Download the full report: Killer Cribs Report (pdf)

Friends of the Earth's Killer Cribs report is highlighted in a CBS National News Exclusive: Watch Part One and Part Two.

Report Summary:  Friends of the Earth has found that commonly used baby and children’s products, and upholstered household furniture, contain dangerous levels of toxic chemicals called halogenated fire retardants. In our sampling of 150 baby products, 56% of all infant carriers, 44% of all car seats, 40% of all strollers and 19% of all portable cribs were found to have high levels of halogenated fire retardants.

Friends of the Earth Takes Action

Friends of the Earth is the sponsor of a 2009 bill in the California State Legislature, SB 772 (Leno), which, if passed, will lead to the removal of toxic and unnecessary halogenated fire retardants in baby products such as strollers, bassinets, infant carriers (car seats) and nursing pillows.  SB 772 has passed through the CA Senate and will be up for a floor vote in the CA General Assembly shortly.  See our recent Op-Ed in the LA Times regarding SB 772 [link].

There is no evidence from the federal or state agencies which regulate flammability issues, such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the CA Bureau of Home Furnishings, that these baby products pose a fire hazard.  SB 772 will therefore exempt baby products from needless regulation that exposes infants and toddlers to dangerous fire retardant chemicals.

Please see our fact sheet on SB 772 for more information.

Background on Halogenated Fire Retardants

In hundreds of studies, halogenated fire retardants have been linked to serious health disorders such as cancer, birth defects, hormone disruption, neurological and reproductive dysfunction and learning disabilities such as ADHD, mental retardation, and hyperactivity. Body burden tests suggest that most Americans now have halogenated fire retardants in their bodies, with babies and children showing the highest levels.

Halogenated fire retardants are lipophilic, meaning that once they enter a human or animal body, they tend to stay there and accumulate, impacting the body's normal functioning and/or causing disease. As exposure continues, the build-up in the body increases.

Children: Babies are now born with hundreds of chemicals already stored in their bodies. Topping the list are halogenated fire retardants, particularly a sub-class called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs).

House Cats: U.S. EPA researchers have hypothesized an association between PBDEs and the significant increase of hyperthyroidism rates in cats. Feline hyperthyroidism was rare before the 1970s, but is now a leading cause of death in domestic cats.

Firefighters: Halogenated fire retardants may be linked to high rates of certain kinds of cancer in firefighters. Firefighters come into contact with these compounds through inhalation and also skin contact with soot during the clean-up phase at burn sites.

Environment: Halogenated fire retardants are increasingly found in river and bay sediments throughout the world, including extremely remote areas such as the Arctic Circle.

Full Killer Cribs Report (pdf) Download the full report

Press Release for Killer Cribs Report

Press Conference in San Francisco

ABC Local News: Watch "Study: Chemicals Used in Popular Baby Products"

Safe Baby Products:  Friends of the Earth's list of companies that claim to sell products free of halogenated fire retardants.

Safe Car Seats:  See a list of car seats without halogenated fire retardants.

Safe Kids Campaign:  See more information on our Safe Kids Campaign

"We sampled a wide variety of children's products, and what we found was alarming," said Friends of the Earth's Sara Schedler, the report's lead author. "Toxic chemicals are being put into products that children and babies interact with on a regular basis, endangering their health. SB 772 will limit the use of these chemicals and protect the most vulnerable population of all: our children."