• Home
  • About ‘NewsMom’
    • Contact NewsMom
  • NewsMom News
    • Reporters’ Notebook
    • Interesting Headlines
  • NewsMom Features
    • The Lighter Side: Blogs & Reviews
    • In Depth: Editorials & Commentary
    • NewsMom Investigates
      • Preventing Child ID Theft: Child Credit Freeze How-To
      • Toxic Safety: Car Seat Chemicals
  • Research & Resources
    • Continuing Coverage
      • Car Seat Safety
      • Chemicals & Kids
      • Our Wireless World
      • Travel With Toddlers
        • 10 Must-Haves for Travel With Toddlers
    • Tips, Tricks & Fun Stuff
      • Parenting ‘VineDeas’
    • How To Test For Toxins
  • Reviews & Buying Guides
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • 10 Must-Haves for Travel With Toddlers

'Real News' & Research For Parents, By Parents Who Are 'Real Reporters'

  • NewsMom Topics:
  • Time & Money
  • Warnings & Scams
  • Health & Safety
  • Lifestyle & Reviews
You are here: Home / Topic: Warnings & Scams / How I Found “Cancer-Causing” Flame Retardants In My Child… And In Her ‘Green’ Car Seat

How I Found “Cancer-Causing” Flame Retardants In My Child… And In Her ‘Green’ Car Seat

March 3, 2016 By Julie Watts 11 Comments

I’m not a particularly green mom. Though, as a consumer reporter I’ve covered enough studies over the years to know I should try to reduce my child’s exposure to concerning chemicals (especially those “known to cause cancer”). It certainly never occurred to me that there might be a flame retardant in my child.

As a result of various news reports and on-camera demos, I’d pretty much rid our home of products with chemical flame retardants—electronics excluded—by the time my daughter was born.

I even bought the pricey Orbit Baby car seat-stroller system that I had reported on because the company claimed its materials were tested to ensure “below detection limits” of “dangerous flame retardant chemicals” including “TDCPP.”

So imagine my surprise when a biomonitoring study found high levels of that chemical in my 2-year old! And by high, I mean eight times the level in average children from previous studies!

Child Test Positive For High Levels Of Car Seat Flame RetardantsCoincidentally, the next day we got back test results from the foam in my daughter’s car seat as part of a completely unrelated consumer investigation. Three labs ultimately confirmed it also contained TDCPP, the same flame retardant in my child.

Sure, flame retardants are in a lot of things, from electronics to furniture and preschool classrooms. Except my daughter doesn’t attend preschool yet, so she spends most of her day in our largely flame-retardant free home (yes, we tested the other padded surfaces she may be exposed to after we got her results back).

The levels of TDCPP in my body were 3.8 PPB (parts per billion). The average child in previous studies had between 5-7 PPB in their bodies. My daughter’s levels were 60.8 BBP!

Twenty-four hours after the car seat was removed (later replaced), her levels were just above the average in children tested for previous studies, 8.68 PPB. Ten days later, they were below average at 4.25 PPB.

The half-life of TDCPP is believed to be 8 hours (i.e. your levels drop by 50 percent every eight hours), so her levels decreased at what would be the expected rate 24 hours after her last exposure. (60/2 = 30 ppb after 8 hrs… 30/2 = 15 ppb after 16 hrs… 15/2 = 7.5 ppb after 24 hrs.)

A follow-up sample was taken 10 days later in an attempt to confirm that there were no other significant contributors in our home. The fact that she still tested positive for 4.25 PBB speaks to the fact that these chemicals are pervasive in consumer products and the environment. There is currently no realistic way to eliminate exposure short of updating regulations. However, parents can certainly try to reduce kids’ exposures.

Toxicologist stress that the lower the exposure, the lower the risk.

I’ve known about her initial results since shortly after my first Orbit story ran in December, but I did not want to publicly report anything until we could do a series of follow-up tests to investigate whether her car seat was likely a primary source of exposure.

Orbit pointed out in its response “Since there are so many products and places where people, especially children, can be exposed to various chemicals, it is difficult to definitively link the presence of a particular substance to a specific source.” The car itself contains flame retardants and that could have also contributed to her exposure.

It is also important to note that Orbit is not alone. Keep in mind, all car seats have flame retardants. Some retardants are believed to be safer than others, though a recent technical report found concerning chemicals in 75 percent of those tested.

SEE UPDATE: Now Our Clek Car Seat Tested Positive For TDCPP

So what does this mean? Is my kid going to get cancer? Is yours? 

The important thing to remember is that knowledge is power.While you can not eliminate exposure to concerning chemicals, there are simple things you can do to reduce exposure.

We’ve put together this resource page for concerned parents to in an effort to provide options.

See “Toxic Safety: Resources for Parents”

  • Get Your Foam Tested at Duke
  • Buy a Car Seat With “Safer” Chemicals
  • Has Your Manufacturer Been Served With Violations?
  • Reduce Exposure
  • Contact Lawmakers With Oversight of NHTSA

For the full story, this KPIX news report provides additional details on the realities of this chemical.

Consumer Reporter’s Shocking Discovery,
“Cancer-Causing” Flame Retardants in Her Daughter and Car Seat

Like most flame retardants, TDCPP does not stay in the product, and kids are more susceptible to the harmful effects of chemical flame retardants because their cells are still developing. Kids are also more likely to ingest the chemicals, which migrate into dust due to normal kid behaviors like hand-to-mouth contact.  Read More at CBSSF. 

But wait, there’s more.

The “Chemicals in my Kid” story was actually the second of our two-part investigation. While I was waiting for my daughter’s follow-up results, I started searching public records and discovered Orbit had twice been served with Prop 65 notices of violation for selling products with “chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects and reproductive harm.”

The shocker: They never had to notify anyone whose kids are still using affected car seats!

We discovered an apparent legal loophole that’s leaving parents in the dark about concerning chemicals in their kids’ car seats and other children’s products, even after companies are served with violations. And again… Orbit is not alone.

We found several car seats and hundreds of children’s products that had been served with violations but never had to inform the parents who’d already purchased those products.

Check out Part 1 of our investigation below for a summary.

Cancer-Causing Chemical In Car Seats;
Manufacturers Served With Violations, Consumers In The Dark

TDCPP is one of those cancer-causing chemicals, and we’ve discovered that Orbit was twice served with Prop 65 notices of violation, but never had to notify parents whose kids are still using those products with Tris. And Orbit is not alone.

 


Learn More

For a summary of the ongoing investigation into chemicals in car seat along with additional resources for parents, links to relevant data & documents, responses from lawmakers and editorials by the reporter, see:

Car Seat Chemicals Continuing Coverage

What began as a NewsMom editorial, expanded into a 6-month KPIX-CBS investigation exposing alleged false advertising, apparent legal loopholes and outdated federal regulations that systematically expose millions of children to concerning, even known-cancer-causing, chemicals in their car seats.

Julie Watts
Julie Watts
Julie is the consumer-investigative reporter for CBS in San Francisco. Her reports air nationally on CBS stations across the coun ...Read More

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Related

Comments

  1. Monica F. says

    March 19, 2016 at 12:13 am

    Hello Julie,
    Great investigative reporting. This story also hits very close to home because I have a young toddler.

    I am curious to know which brand/ model of car seat did you end up getting to replace your daughter’s Orbit car seat?
    My son currently has the Chicco NextFit Convertible car seat but I am concerned. I will be sending in a sample to Duke for testing. But, I can to prepare and have options lined up.

    I was not able to find the list of safer alternative car seat options.

    I hope you can help.

    Thank you!
    Monica

    Reply
    • newsmom says

      March 23, 2016 at 11:17 am

      Hi Monica,

      Ther’s a screen grab of the Ecology Center’s list of tested car seats in the middle of this blog post:
      https://newsmom.com/concerning-chemicals-in-orbit-baby-car-seats/

      I think you’ll find their consumer guide helpful:
      http://www.ecocenter.org/healthy-stuff/reports/childrens-car-seat-study/report_summary

      Here’s a link to to the Ecology Center’s full study
      https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5qYQqdu0iEQUUQxR3dNRFAzZWM/view

      Reply
  2. Angie says

    April 8, 2016 at 5:48 am

    Is it possible to have my daughter bio tested? Where would one go to get tested?

    Reply
    • newsmom says

      April 11, 2016 at 9:06 am

      I was part of an EWG study, however the state of California is currently doing a similar bio-monitoring study. I’m not sure if they’re still accepting participants. You might try contacting OEHHA http://www.biomonitoring.ca.gov/

      Reply
  3. You have pending messages (2) from Alison! Reply Now: https://letsg0dancing.page.link/go?hs=d5e552a87e2d120981573b204e3a4a09& says

    July 11, 2022 at 5:03 am

    00y8l4

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

#NEWSMOM NOTE

We’re taking a bit of a hiatus from posting new content here, but we’ll keep sharing great journalism and research via the @NewsMomDotCom Facebook page.

You can also follow @NewsMomDocCom on Instagram for fun #MomLife videos & posts. 

We’re working on new and exciting ways to get you the “real news” and research that matters to you! In the meantime, we’ll keep all of our existing research archived here at NewsMom.com.

Follow NewsMom.com

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Click above to return to the NewsMom "Car Seat Chemicals" resource page featuring continuing coverage, lawmaker reaction, background data and unique resources to help reduce your child's exposure to concerning chemicals in car seats.

Investigating Car Seat Chemicals

#Toxic Safety: Car Seat Chemicals Continuing Coverage

Continuing Coverage

Investigating UPPAbaby Flame-Retardant-Free Car Seats

2016 Ecology Center Car Seat Test Results

New Car Seat Study Finds Fewer Chemicals, But Concerns Linger

2016 Ecology Center Car Seat Test Results

Questions About 2016 Ecology Center Car Seat Flame Retardant Report

Ergo Baby “Exiting the Orbit Baby Brand”

Now Our Clek Car Seat Tested Positive for TDCPP

Another ‘Green’ Car Seat Tests Positive For ‘Cancer-Causing’ Chemical Flame Retardant • CBS San Francisco

Remember ‘That’ Biomonitoring Study? Car Seats Are Just the Beginning…

Environmental Working Group found that government regulations can increase those “potentially harmful exposures.”

Regulations Blamed for Higher Levels of Flame Retardants in Kids • CBS San Francisco

Why Care About Chemicals Products?

“Chemicals Are in Everything, Why Should I Care?”

Consumer Federation on DOT Response to Chemicals in Car Seats • CBS San Francisco

Chemicals in Children’s Car Seats Addressed at Washington Hearing • CBS San Francisco

Ladies Of ‘The Talk’ on CBS Talk Flame Retardants In Car Seats With Julie Watts

Ladies of The Talk on CBS Talk Flame Retardants in Car Seats

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) introduced legislation to rid car seats of flame retardant chemicals following a series of reports by ConsumerWatch reporter Julie Watts.

Car Seat Chemical Probe Prompts Legislation, Lands Reporter On ‘The Talk’ • CBS San Francisco

#Toxic Safety: Investigating Car Seat Chemicals

Investigating Car Seat Chemicals

Feds Blamed for Needlessly Exposing Kids to "Cancer-Causing" Car Seat Chemicals

Part 4: Feds Blamed for Exposing Kids to Car Seat Chemicals • CBS San Francisco

Investigating Car Seat Chemicals: The Lawmaker Response

Car Seat Chemicals: Resources for Parents

How I Discovered A Cancer-Causing Car Seat Flame Retardant "In" My Child

Part 3: Reporter’s Shocking Discovery – Daughter & Car Seat Positive for “Cancer-Causing” Flame Retardant • CBS San Francisco

Cancer-Causing Car Seat Chemicals — Manufacturers With Violations, Consumers In The Dark • CBSSF

Part 2: Car Seats With Violations, Consumers In The Dark • CBS San Francisco

What began as a NewsMom blog on chemical flame retardants in car seats evolved first, into a regional story for CBS local affiliates, then into a national story for CBS This Morning.

Popular Car Seats Found To Contain Concerning Flame Retardant • CBS News

High-End Orbit Baby Car Seat Contains Concerning Flame Retardant • CBSSF

Part 1: High-End Car Seat Contains Concerning Flame Retardant • CBS San Francisco

Orbit Responds to Chemical Flame Retardants Found in their Car Seats

Orbit Baby Responds to Flame Retardants in Car Seats

Concerning Chemicals Found in Orbit Baby and Other Car Seats

Concerning Chemicals Found in Orbit Baby & Other Car Seats

NewsMom Continuing Coverage: Travel With Toddlers

Child in airplane, carryon overnight kit

The Carryon Overnight Kit: A Must for Airplane Travel With Kids

One way to carry the car seat in a sit-and-stand double stroller.

Car Seats in Taxis: Difficult But Doable

Baby travel products, Ergo and double stroller

Adventures in Baby Travel: Useful Products for Jet-Setting Families

Baby Gear Bucket Bath

Baby Gear: If I Could Go Back, Instead I’d Buy…

A CBS News Investigation reveals why you should Put Kids In the middle seat or third row.

UPDATE: Keep Car Seats in the Middle, A Fatal Seat Flaw Exposed

How to safely ride in a taxi with kids.

A Car Seat Conversion: Why I’m Changing My Taxi-With-Kids Habits

The CPSC, American Academy of Pediatrics & many others urge parents NOT to use car seats as stroller seats or let babies sleep in a car seat.

Wake The Baby! Don’t Use Car Seats as Stroller Seats

Car Seat Safety Standards Leading to Heatstroke Deaths of Children in Cars

Car Seat Safety Standards Leading to More Child Deaths

Travel Products For Kids - NewsMom News for Moms

10 Must-Haves for Travel With Toddlers

Toddler Travel Must-Haves - 5 in 1 Car Seat, Stroller, Booster

5-in-1 Convertible Car Seat Stroller

Toddler Travel Must-Haves - Baby BAir Flight Vest

Baby Flight Vest

Unsponsored Reviews For Parents, Written By Journalists Who Are Also Parents

NewsMom Must-Haves for Parents

Navigating TSA with your Traveling Toddler - NewsMom News for Moms

Navigating TSA With Your Traveling Toddler

About NewsMom

NEWS, REVIEWS & RESEARCH BY REPORTERS WHO ARE MOMS & DADS

We are not "influencers" or "brand ambassadors." We are parents and journalists sharing our investigative research, resources, and news reports with others.

As moms & dads, we have an intimate knowledge of the issues parents face. As journalists, we have an ethical obligation to remain independent and transparent.

Newsmom.com features "unsponsored" news, reviews, and resources you can trust.

About

  • About NewsMom
  • Contact

NewsMom Sections

  • NewsMom News
  • NewsMom Features
  • NewsMom Reviews
  • Research/Resources

NewsMom Topics

  • Time & Money
  • Warnings & Scams
  • Lifestyle & Reviews
  • Health & Safety

Cont. Coverage

  • Preventing Child ID Theft
  • Investigating Car Seat Chemicals

Featured Pages

  • Travel With Toddlers
  • Test For Chemicals
  • Parenting VineDeas
  • Buying Guides

Follow NewsMom

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2023 · NewsMom · Genesis Customization: imakewp.com · SEO Site Speed: Marketing the Change

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.