Most bibs have a tab that lists the materials used to make the bib. If your child's bib is labeled "polyvinyl chloride", or "vinyl", or "PVC" it may contain lead.
Test it to see if it contains lead.
Childhood lead exposure has a profound effect on developing brains. It can lead to brain damage, lowered IQ, attention deficit, and behavioral problems.
Even low levels of lead can be dangerous because lead accumulates in the body. The U.S. Public Health Service says that there is no safe lead exposure for children. That's why Center for Environmental Health is working to help eliminate the sources of lead that parents can control.
Yes, vinyl bibs, vinyl lunchboxes, children's toys, and various types of jewelry have been found to contain lead.
Some manufacturers intentionally add lead to vinyl (PVC) plastic as a stabilizing agent or a pigment. But there are safer alternatives. PVC can be made without lead, and bibs can be made from other plastics besides PVC. Bibs can also be made without plastic.
Stores were selling bibs that had lead levels three to four times greater that the legal limit for lead in paint. We take this health threat seriously, but we urge parents not to panic. The lead levels are not high enough by themselves to cause acute lead poisoning during normal use. But we also urge parents to keep in mind that children are exposed to many sources of lead. Parents can do a lot to protect their children from lead simply by testing bibs and other suspicious products and getting rid of the ones that test positive for lead.
From the factory to the home to the garbage incinerator, vinyl products are toxic from start to finish. When burned, vinyl releases dioxins, chemicals that can cause cancer and harm the immune and reproductive systems. Many vinyl products contain additional chemicals, including phthalates which confuse the body's hormone systems. Vinyl is also very difficult to recycle.
Knowing the store where you bought your bib does not allow us to tell you whether or not it contains lead. We have found lead-contaminated and lead-free products in the same store. We advise parents to avoid buying vinyl bibs (and other products) altogether and to test the ones you already have.
Knowing the brand of your bib does not allow us to tell you whether or not it contains lead. We have found lead-contaminated and lead-free products from the same company. We advise parents to avoid buying vinyl bibs (and other products) altogether and to test the ones you already have.
Knowing the appearance of your bib does not allow us to tell you whether or not it contains lead. We have found lead-contaminated and lead-free products with the same designs and cartoon characters on them. We advise parents to avoid buying vinyl bibs (and other products) altogether and test the ones you already have.
Cloth bibs without a vinyl backing are available at most stores that sell baby products. To keep your baby's clothing dry, try using two cloth bibs placed on top of one another. We recommend bibs made from organic cotton. If you need a bib with a waterproof layer, look for bibs that are PVC-free or vinyl-free.
1 Keep the bib away from your child.
2 Call your local waste agency and ask how to dispose of it properly. If your bib came from Toys R Us or Babies R Us you can return it for a refund.
3 By itself, this bib will not cause lead poisoning. But lead accumulates in the body, and there are many other sources of lead in the world today. If you believe your child is at risk for lead poisoning, we recommend that you have his or her blood tested for lead.
Stay on the lookout for other sources of lead in your child's life. Other vinyl products, toys, old chipping paint, and jewelry all may contain lead. Be sure to test these items.
No. Most paints in use today are lead-free. But the only way to be certain your painted items are safe is to test them.
If you've already purchased a vinyl product with a "Lead Free" label on it, we recommend that you err on the side of caution and test it for lead.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has the authority to establish a safe standard for lead in children's products. Unfortunately, the CPSC is a political agency with appointees who favor industry profits over children's health. The state of Illinois has a law that protects children by making illegal any children's product that contains more than 600 parts per million of lead. You can write to the CPSC to urge them to adopt a similar standard to protect children in the other forty-nine states. Their email address is: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Their postal mail address is: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814.
California has a law called the Safe Drinking Water and Toxics Enforcement Act of 1986. It identifies lead as a chemical that causes cancer and reproductive harm and prohibits the use of lead in consumer products. Private agencies like the Center for Environmental Health are allowed to enforce the law against companies that endanger children.
Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to test bibs and other products for everyone. For more information on testing your bib, click here.
Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to provide testing kits to everyone. For more information on testing your bib, click here.
The fact that your item was made in China does not make it unsafe. We've found many lead-free toys, bibs, and other items that were made in China. We've also found lead-contaminated products that were made in the United States. The only way to know if your items are contaminated with lead is to test them.
Huge retailers in our country are always cutting costs. They insist that their foreign and American manufacturers make products as cheaply as possible. This economic pressure favors dangerously cheap production at the expense of consumer safety. Retailers will tell you that they are simply responding to pressure from the American consumer who demands low prices. There are many things you can do about this: support small local businesses, write to the big retailers and urge them to protect consumer health, write to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and urge it to live up to its name. You can also support organizations like Center for Environmental Health.
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