For Immediate Release: November 2007
Contact: Kathleen Chambers, Marketing Director, Mothering magazine
505.984.6289, kathleenc@mothering.com

Mothering's holiday issue and annual toy review offers alternatives to toxins in children's products.

There is a general misconception that, because a chemical is used in a product intended for children, it must be safe. Sadly, this isn't the case.

Phthalates, a class of chemicals used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic soft and flexible, can be found in such products as toys, teething rings, and lotions. Exposure to phthalates has been linked to cancer, infertility, premature breast development in girls, and genital birth defects in boys.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is used to make hard, clear, polycarbonate plastic baby bottles and other containers. BPA mimics the hormone estrogen, and may interfere with brain-cell development as well as with biological processes that rely on estrogen, such as ovulation and reproduction. Studies have shown that BPA leaches out of polycarbonate containers. Exposure to BPA has been linked to cancer, impaired immune function, early puberty, obesity, diabetes, and hyperactivity, among other problems.

In 2007, at least 10 million children's items, all made in China, were recalled because they contained lead, a neurotoxic heavy metal, which can cause brain damage and learning disabilities.

Parents can avoid unnecessarily exposing their children to these toxins by opting for cloth and wooden toys, switching to bottles made of polypropylene, and buying only domestically made products. Perhaps the most important thing parents can do is to let retailers and manufacturers know they are concerned about toxic chemicals in children's products.

For more details and alternatives to toxic toys, read "Out of the Mouths of Babes," "Great Toxin-Free Products," and "Bah, Humbug! More Lead-Tainted Toys." For safe holiday gifts, check out "Santa's Workshop Rediscovered," Mothering's annual roundup of fair-trade, lead-free, organic cloth and wooden toys, none made in China.

These and other safety-related articles may be found in Mothering magazine's November-December 2007 issue, available at your local bookstore, newsstand, or natural food store. Also try Mothering Digital; or go to www.mothering.com.

Mothering is a bimonthly magazine that reports on natural family living. Articles cover pregnancy, natural childbirth, breastfeeding, education alternatives, and family health issues. Mothering's editors can serve as trusted resources for any stories involving these topics.

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Representatives of the media may obtain a complimentary subscription to Mothering magazine or Mothering Digital by contacting Kathleen Chambers, Marketing Director, at kathleenc@mothering.com.