“Protecting the health of 90% of European children aged zero to three. “This is the objective of the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES), which published on December 22 a new proposal for the restriction of hazardous chemicals in disposable diapers. This proposal is part of the European regulation of chemicals (REACH).

Also read: Do you know what is in your babies’ diapers?

PCB, hydrocarbons, formaldehyde …

This proposal concerns all member countries of the European Union and consists of limiting “to the maximum“the presence in the layers of”nearly 200 substances “ precise ANSES in a press release.

Among them are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins, furans, PCBs or even formaldehyde.

Threshold concentrations

And for good reason: in an expert report published in 2019, ANSES warned of the risks to the health of babies linked to the presence of these “chemicals of concern “ in disposable diapers.
By setting threshold concentrations not to be exceeded, ANSES hopes to drastically reduce the concentrations of the most problematic substances.

Compliance with these thresholds would be made possible by reinforced control of the manufacturing process. It will aim in particular to ensure that the dyes and bleaching agents chosen do not involve any risk, that the raw materials used are not already contaminated and that the heating temperatures do not favor the formation of PAHs.

A harmonized analysis

Another point proposed by ANSES: disseminate a method for analyzing layers harmonized at European level.

This method, developed for the 2019 expertise, takes into account the most realistic conditions for baby’s exposure to risky substances depending on his behavior.