A French authority has warned of hazardous materials in baby diapers. Analyses have shown that disposable diapers contain dangerous chemical substances, according to the Department of food safety, environmental protection and occupational safety (Anses) on Wednesday.
Information about the fragrances but also the controversial weed poison glyphosate.
The substances could go through the urine or the skin and into the body of the baby. While there is currently no evidence of adverse health effects for babies. However, it had been exceeded for several substances, the limit values, and therefore a health risk let also does not exclude it.
Diapers for sure usable
"I want the parents beruhigen", the French health Minister Agnès Buzyn said on Wednesday after Meeting with diaper manufacturers, such as the French news Agency AFP reported. The diapers are for sure suitable, she said. But they wanted to make progress. The discovered substances should be reduced in the diapers in the future or not at all included. The manufacturer shall provide within 15 days a plan of action.
For the investigation, Anses has analyzed the diapers of approximately 20 frequently used in France manufacturers. The authority calls for, to dispense with the use of fragrances. In addition, the origin of the natural raw materials that may already be in front of the production is contaminated will be reviewed, better.
No data for the German market
The Federal office for risk assessment (BfR) in Berlin have no data on the content of these substances in diapers on the German market, said its spokesman, Jürgen Thier-Kundke. There is in Germany, but other rules. "We have the necessary items regulation." The requirements for diapers and other products are regulated in more detail than in France.
Against glyphosate it was mainly in Germany again and again, massive protests. The Mediterranean is, according to some studies suspected to be carcinogenic. The EU member States had approved the pesticide in November 2017, for a further five years. It is also used in the cultivation of crops such as cotton. So, it is likely that the weed killer found in hygiene products such as Tampons.