The Ecology Center has discovered that approximately 60% of car seats contain hazardous chemicals such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) brominated flame retardants (BFR) and heavy metals. The results have been published on HealthStuff.org, a website which provides a database for consumers of toxic chemicals found in toys and other children's products, cars, home improvement products, pet products and apparel. The results of this study are concerning since these chemicals are linked to allergies, reproductive disorders, developmental disorders, liver toxicity and cancer. In addition, chemical release is enhanced with exposure to heat and ultraviolet rays from the sun which can then be absorbed through a child’s skin and enter the body.

An X-ray fluorescence (XRF) device was used to test over 150 car seats (2011 models).  This device tested for bromine, chlorine, lead, antimony, arsenic, chromium, cobalt, copper, mercury, nickel and tin. Although many chemicals were tested for, the XRF device was not able to test for other types of flame retardants and chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA).

The study concluded that although many car seat manufactures are reducing the number of chemicals used in their products when compared to the study conducted in 2008, there are still toxic chemicals of concern being used in some brands of car seats.

Check out this year’s Best and Worst Picks:

Car Seat Type

Best Picks

Worst Picks

Infant

Chicco KeyFit 30 in LimonataGraco Snugride 35 in Laguna BayCombi Shuttle 33 in Cranberry Noche Graco Snugride 35 in Edgemont Red/BlackGraco SnugRide 30 in Asprey

Convertible

Graco Comfort Sport in CaleoGraco MyRide 65 in Chandler Graco MyRide 65 in StreamerSafety 1st OnSide Air in ClearwaterGraco Nautilus Elite 3-in-1 in Gabe Britax Marathon 70 in Jet SetBritax Marathon in Platinum

Booster

Graco Turbo Booster in Anders Recaro Pro Booster in Blue OpalRecaro ProSPORT Toddler in Mist
Find the results for all 150 car seats tested (click on link below and locate car seat by brand and model):
Infant SeatsConvertible SeatsBooster Seats Remember, car seats are a must and the law requires children to be restrained when traveling in a vehicle. These new findings allow parents and caregivers to choose car seats that not only protect their child for serious injury in the event of a crash, but also one that reduces their child’s exposure to cancer-causing chemicals.

 

                  Hazardous Chemicals in Some Car Seats

 

HealthyStuff.org: Hazardous Flame Retardants and Chemical Additives Found in Over Half of 2011 Child Car Seats Tested by HealthyStuff.org