Detroit Free Press Matt Helms Column: Is Your Child’s Car Seat Toxic? Ann Arbor Group Investigates

By Matt Helms, Detroit Free Press

May 16–An Ann Arbor-based environmental group releases its rankings today of the best and worst child car safety seats when it comes to exposing children to potentially dangerous chemicals.

The Ecology Center’s rankings are available at the Web site www.healthycar.org. Minimal registration is required to access the information.

“Car seats save lives. It’s absolutely essential that parents put their children in them while driving,” said Jeff Gearhart, the Ecology Center’s clean car campaign director, in a statement released this morning. “However, some car seats are safer than others when it comes to chemical composition. Healthycar.org makes it easy for parents to choose the least toxic car seat for their child.”

The center said it tested 62 models of safety and booster seats for chemicals including bromine, chlorine, lead and heavy metal allergens. The center said these substances “have been linked to major health problems such as liver, thyroid and developmental problems in children.”

Testing found some models were nearly free of dangerous chemicals but others were saturated, the center said.

Contact MATT HELMS at driving@freepress.com.

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