We have carried out tests on a range of household products to find out if they are harbouring harmful chemicals. The results are disturbing. Many products like perfumes, shampoos, and plastic goods were found to contain high levels of dangerous chemicals. Shockingly, Disney-branded pyjamas available at The Disney Store and other big retailers were amongst the worst offenders. We were astounded to learn that a brand aimed at children could sell products which could damage their health.
The toxic chemicals found were nonylphenol that can interfere with human DNA and effect sperm production in mammals, and phthalates which can cause liver, kidney and testicular damage. Phthalates are banned from teething toys under emergency legislation.
These harmful chemicals are probably in the garments as a result of the inks and PVC plastic film used in the design on the front.
The pyjamas affected are:
- Buzz Lightyear pyjamas for boys;
- Piglet pyjamas;
- Tigger pyjamas with caption '100% Cheeky' (pictured)
- Tigger pyjamas with caption 'Come on in little buddy. The water's great!'
In a letter to Disney, we demanded that the company "recall and withdraw from sale" all the affected pyjamas, along with "any product containing persistent, bioaccumulative or toxic chemicals". There can never be any excuse for exposing children to these extremely hazardous chemicals.
 | To underline this call, we have been placing warning labels on the pyjamas. More about the sticker campaign. |
As a result of the campaign, Disney stores, along with Debenhams and Mothercare, who have also been stocking Disney pyjama's, have now taken the offending garments from sale. However, Asda and Woolworths have not yet withdrawn pyjamas containing these harmful chemicals. Although it is good news that some retailers are beginning to recognise the seriousness of this issue by withdrawing from sale some of the pyjamas concerned, we want retailers to act immediately to remove all pyjamas containing chemicals that contaminate children.
We have published a new report, Chemical legacy - contamination of the child". Disturbingly, the report finds that such damaging chemicals are likely to have a far more significant effect on children than adults, because of differences in absorbtion and metabolism.
Laws on chemicals in household products weakened
The report and the test results come at a crucial time. EU Commissioners have recently been debating the strength of new legislation which is being drafted to regulate the chemical industry. The new legislation, called REACH has at its core a principle of substitution. i.e. if a company is using a hazardous chemical in a product when a safer alternative exists they will be legally obliged to stop using the hazardous chemical.
However, EU commissioners have been successfully lobbied by the chemical industry who fear that implementing the subtitution principle would be too costly. As a result, the recent discussions have resulted in a weakening, rather than strengthening of chemical regulations.
This means that toxic products like these Disney pyjama's will continue to be made.
