| If you visit the web sites of the popular disposable | | | | findings appear in a scientific report concluded by Dr. |
| diaper manufacturers you will find little information | | | | Rosalind C. Anderson of Anderson Laboratories, Inc. in |
| about what exactly is in a disposable diaper. Instead | | | | Vermont. The report went on to say that "Chemical |
| you read information about why they are not | | | | analysis of the emissions revealed several chemicals |
| compelled to make this information available to you...the | | | | with documented respiratory toxicity. The results |
| consumer. When requesting MSDS (Material Safety | | | | demonstrate that some types of disposable diapers |
| Data Sheets) on disposable diapers products you may | | | | emit mixtures of chemicals that are toxic to the |
| be met with a response such as this: | | | | respiratory tract. Disposable diapers should be |
| Dear Customer, | | | | considered as one of the factors that might cause or |
| These consumer products are exempt from the | | | | exacerbate asthmatic conditions."* |
| MSDS requirement under the Hazard Communication | | | | Not only are these large disposable diaper |
| Guidelines of the federal Occupational Safety and | | | | manufacturers producing products laden with |
| Health Administration. More importantly though, all of | | | | chemicals to diaper our children with, they are polluting |
| our paper products are composed of non-hazardous | | | | the earth our children will inherit. In one US town, one |
| substances. | | | | such company is responsible for discharging |
| We go to great lengths to ensure that our products | | | | approximately 50 million gallons/day of wastewater |
| are safe for workers, consumers, and the | | | | into a nearby river.** The chemicals being dumped into |
| environment. All of our products have been proven | | | | this river have made their way into the well water of |
| safe through many years of extensive testing and | | | | the surrounding residents and have caused mutations |
| consumer use. | | | | among the fish that live in it. The water is so dark and |
| Please be assured that there has never been a need | | | | murky that oxygen and sunlight cannot penetrate it |
| for MSDS for these products. | | | | and the smell emanating from it is noxious. Residents |
| Sincerely, | | | | have been fighting for close to ten years now to stop |
| A Large Disposable Diaper Company | | | | this company from polluting their natural resources, all |
| So this inclines us to ask...what is the big secret and | | | | to no avail. Not only do the "safe" ingredients used in |
| what are you trying to hide? Perhaps they know it | | | | these diapering products have the potential to cause |
| would be unfavorable for them to tell consumers that | | | | asthma-like conditions in our children they may also be |
| they are in fact buying polyethylene and polypropylene | | | | polluting our drinking water and mutating our wildlife in |
| plastic with bleached paper pulp, AGM (a gelling | | | | areas where they are manufactured. |
| substance), petrolatum, stearyl alcohol, cellulose tissue, | | | | So it would seem that when a diaper consumer is |
| elastic, and perfume. Instead they would rather | | | | prohibited from knowing the full contents of the diaper |
| consumers subscribe to the ideas they present on | | | | they are using on their child, the manufacturing |
| national television...that you are diapering your baby with | | | | company has a great deal to hide. How many parents |
| materials as soft and inviting as cashmere. | | | | would buy disposable diapers if you were to read |
| Even when contacting them to determine if your child | | | | something like this on the company web site or diaper |
| might have sensitivities to the "ingredients" in their | | | | packaging: |
| diapering products, you will not get you any closer to | | | | Dear Customer, |
| the truth. Instead they tell you that this information is | | | | Our diapers are made from a variety of non-child |
| proprietary due to the prevalence of diapering spies | | | | friendly products including bleached paper pulp, |
| out there and that if you want further information | | | | petrolatum, stearyl alcohol, cellulose tissue, sodium |
| about the contents you must submit a letter from your | | | | polyacralate, and perfumes. Some or all of these |
| Dr. explaining what allergies or product sensitivities your | | | | ingredients may cause adverse reactions to the |
| child might have and they will either confirm or deny. | | | | wearer, including reduced respiratory function so |
| The extent of the security that exists around the | | | | please exercise caution. |
| contents of a diapering product is not only baffling but | | | | Our products are not biodegradable or environmentally |
| alarming. Millions are children adorn these products for | | | | friendly and they may contribute greatly to |
| anywhere from 1-4 years and yet parents are not | | | | environmental pollution. Although recycling disposable |
| permitted to know what is in them. Even more | | | | diapers is a possibility, we do not at this time, use any |
| alarming is the fact that many parents blindly trust | | | | of these available methods as the monetary costs are |
| these companies to make products that are safe for | | | | too great. Thank you kindly for using our products |
| their children, never questioning the content of a diaper | | | | anyway. |
| or their health and environmental impacts. | | | | Sincerely, |
| Did you know that scientific studies have linked | | | | A Large Disposable Diaper Company |
| disposable diapers and their harsh perfumes and toxic | | | | Now the question is....if upon reading something like that |
| substances to the increase of asthma in society | | | | would parents still choose perceived convenience and |
| today? Laboratory rats exposed to disposable diapers | | | | use disposable diapers anyway? We can only hope |
| straight out of the package have suffered increased | | | | that cloth diapers would at least merit a consideration |
| eye, nose and throat irritation, as well as bronchial | | | | for their qualities of superior comfort and safety. |
| constriction similar to that of an asthma attack. These | | | | |