Chemicals
Cloth Nappies vs disposable nappies?
You may be wondering what's in a disposable nappy ?
Disposable nappies can contain adhesives, bleach, dye, latex/rubber, perfume, plastics and petroleum derivatives.
Adhesives
Glues from petrochemical sources used to hold various parts of the nappy together including the mock paper breathable cover used to make the nappy appear soft and flexible. May cause skin irritation.
Artificial Perfumes or Fragrances
Used to make the nappy smell nice (before the baby contributes anything to the nappy !) May contain phthalates to prolong the life of the scent. These may cause liver damage, kidney and lung problems and damage the reproductive organs of developing babies. May contain parabens as a preservative which can be absorbed through the skin and build up within the body. They may mimic oestrogen which can cause cancer.
Coloured Dye
used to print pictures on the outer layer of the nappy or trainer pants. May cause skin irritation or nappy rash in some children.
Latex/Rubber
a natural product from the sap of the rubber tree, chemically altered versions are also used. These may cause skin allergies.
Petrochemical Derivatives
Adhesives - as above
Petrolatum – a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum. Drying to the skin.
Plastics including -
Polyester – A flammable plastic fibre used within the nappy. Can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions if minute fibres get into the respiratory tract.
Polyethylene – Plastic. No known cause for concern.
Polypropylene – A flexible plastic. May cause respiratory problems if inhaled e.g. if the nappy splits.
Sodium Polyacralyte – A super absorber used inside the nappy to suck moisture away from the inner of the nappy and retain it. Very drying so may cause skin irritation. In the past it has been linked to toxic shock syndrome and was banned from women’s sanitary products years ago. Extremely difficult to break down on soil and may take at least 100 years.
Wood Cellulose Fibre
A by product of the wood and paper industry used for it’s absorbency. A natural product which can be sourced from managed forests. However, to achieve the whiteness of this, the fibre is usually bleached with chlorine, the by-products of which can affect our water and fish in nearby rivers and lakes. Small amounts also remain within the nappy and can cause birth defects, miscarriage, cancer and other health problems. It is toxic in quite small quantities.