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Consumer Products and Other Scary Things
By Christina Quick | March 5, 2008
The Washington Post ran an article this past weekend about parents shelling out big bucks to shield their offspring from potentially toxic substances in everyday products.
From organic cotton crib mattresses to stainless steel sippy cups and wooden teethers, it seems there is a growing market for products made from non-synthetic materials.
Recent stories about possible adverse health effects from phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), plastic additives found in everything from baby bottles to food packaging, have many parents alarmed. Phthalates have been linked to reproductive problems, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has expressed concern about their use in children’s products.
These worries are compounded by last year’s recalls of imported toys and other items tainted with lead.
So what’s a parent to do? With chemical-free products costing considerably more than their molded plastic counterparts, is a little peace of mind worth the extra money?
For me, these questions stir up a mixed bag of emotions. Last year, I took six of my children’s toys to a lead-test clinic. Though none were on recall lists, two of the imported toys tested positive for high lead levels — including a harmonica. A harmonica! What’s lead doing in a toy designed to go in a child’s mouth?
I now read labels and try to buy fewer products imported from poorly regulated countries. I also pay more attention to stories about other potential hazards, such as phthalates. But the more “informed” I become, the more helpless I feel. Our air and drinking water are polluted. Our homes are filled with formaldehyde and other carcinogens. The foods we eat are laced with chemical pesticides, sweeteners, preservatives, fillers, colors and enhancers. It seems a host of perils lurk around every corner, ready to pounce on unsuspecting, innocent children. It’s enough to make a mom feel downright neurotic.
No wonder God promised long ago to create a new earth (2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:1). Surely He knew what a mess we would make of this one. In the mean time, I realize even the most hypervigilant parent can’t eliminate every danger. I have to come to grips with my family’s vulnerability and ultimate dependence on God’s protection.
Until God’s plan is completed and all things are made new, I’ll keep doing the best I can and leave the rest to Him.
“I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
Topics: In the news |
