Your Child's Car Seat May Contain Toxic Chemicals

Did you know that over half of child car seats contain toxic chemicals? Find out what you can do to protect your child’s development and overall safety.
Written by Elaine Duvet
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
A study published by the Ecology Center’s Healthy Stuff lab found that many
car seats
still contain toxic chemicals. But since a
properly installed child safety seat
is still the best way to transport a child by car, what are parents to do?
Jerry
, the
trustworthy insurance comparison app
, checks out the latest research on harmful car seats and the best course of action for parents. 

Is your child’s car seat dangerous?

Child car seats help reduce the number of injuries and deaths of children involved in car accidents. However, the 2022 study inspected over 600 components on 25 different seats from best-selling brands like Grace, Evenflo, and Baby Trend in the EU and U.S. 
While car seat companies have made significant improvements to reduce children's exposure to harmful chemicals found in flame retardants, the 2022 study showed that less-expensive seats in particular often contain toxic chemicals. 
Adding flame retardants is a cheaper way to meet flammability requirements than using specialized fabrics. However, safe alternatives like dense, tightly woven polyester fabric or wool cost manufacturers a pretty penny. The study found that car seat companies struggle to make seats retardant-free for less than $100. 
As of now, 42 car seat models made by eight companies are guaranteed to be free of flame retardant. That’s an impressive improvement from 2018, which had only eight seats from four companies marketed as FR-free. In order to meet federally mandated flammability requirements for the inside of a vehicle, chemical flame retardants are added to the seats. 
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Are flame retardants for car seats necessary?

Other studies in the past showed that flame retardants found in car seats can contain bromine or chlorine which have both environmental and health consequences. 
Phosphorus-based flame retardants have been used in the U.S. as a recent replacement, but little information is known about how safe they actually are. Of the 22 U.S. car seats tested in the study, 11 contained phosphorus-based flame retardants.
Bromine and phosphorus-containing flame retardants in car seats can lead to diabetes, cancer, developmental disorders, endocrine disruption, and other major health issues. 
Car seats that use PFAs for their stain, water, and grease-resistant properties can lead to health problems like high cholesterol, decreased immunity, cancer, thyroid disease, and liver problems. PFAs are also known as “forever chemicals” because of their ability to thrive for long periods in ecosystems. 
These toxic chemicals can be absorbed into the skin or breathed in and ingested when they break off from materials. 
Whether or not flame retardants are necessary is still up for debate. The Ecology Center found no evidence that the country’s flammability standards have actually prevented car seat-related deaths over the past 50 years. It also noted that this hazardous exposure problem created by car seat companies follows a broken regulation. 
U.S. flammability rules trace back to the time when cigarette culture was alive and well. Companies that manufactured cigarettes supported the use of chemicals in car seats and furniture to prevent fires from riders accidentally dropping them. 
In truth,
most car fires start in the engine block
, making flame retardants superfluous. Plus, these chemicals also create a health hazard for firefighters who could inhale the smoke while on the job. 
MORE: These Are Some of the Best New Accessories For Your Car

What parents can do

Organizations like Consumer Reports encourage the reduction of chemical flame retardants and support new methods of limiting fire with various products for consumers. 
For the time being, it’s important to continue using your child restraint. The little we know about chemical exposure issues aren’t worth the risk of your child being hurt in the event of a crash. 
You can also limit the use of your car seat outside of the car. Avoid using your car seat for extended periods that don’t involve travel. That includes long periods of eating, playing, and sleeping. 
Regularly cleaning your seats will help limit the amount of chemicals released by keeping dust at bay. Vacuuming the vehicle’s interior periodically should do the trick.
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