Pollutants in ten of 14 strollers

Most of the stroller burdened with pollutants

01/28/2015

Strollers are not only prone to significant price differences, but also significant differences in functionality and quality. Often the prams were in an investigation of the „Stiftung Warentest“ does not meet the requirements of the testers. Ten of 14 cars are „inadequate“ and not one was „Well“, so the announcement of the foundation.

Baby strollers are today high-tech devices for which parents quickly spend hundreds of euros, because after all they only want the best for their child, explains Stiftung Warentest. The price range of the 14 prams tested ranged from 249 euros to 910 euros, but none of the prams received the verdict „Well“, nobody was pollutant-free and no one was really child-friendly, according to the statement of the Stiftung Warentest.

Ten prams „inadequate“
In ten baby carriages, the testers claimed to have so many pollutants that they total „inadequate“ were evaluated. In handles, straps, covers and rain covers are „including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and phthalates (plasticizers)“ been proven. „These critical substances are partly carcinogenic and endanger the reproduction“, reports the Stiftung Warentest. Overall, be the result of the current test „even worse than the buggy test of 2006“ noticed. At the time, five out of 15 tested buggies cut five „Well“ from. Nevertheless, the industry has apparently not been prompted by these alarming results and the following criticism to redirect. Although from a technical point of view, none of the pollutants seem necessary, since none was equally present in all cars, these still continue to be used.

Doll prams with stricter limits
Even if the proven pollutants pose no acute danger to health, according to the Stiftung Warentest „damage to health due to prolonged loading.“ However, the manufacturers are within the legal limits, as they have so far only had to adhere to regulations concerning some heavy metals, but not to the stricter regulations for toys, which set, for example, limits for some phthalates. „The pollutant content of dolls children's carts is therefore more regulated than the one in which the child sits“, so the criticism of the Stiftung Warentest.

Pollutants in contact materials
In the current study, the testers evaluated stroller contact materials (for example, fabrics, handles, and rain covers) using the same criteria that applies to children's toys. The result was often sobering. However, because the examined children's carts do not infringe any legal requirements despite the high pollution levels, there are only few possibilities for parents in the aftermath. They have no right to exchange or return because of the high pollutant content. According to the announcement of Stiftung Warentest, customers can only hope for the goodwill of dealers and providers. Perhaps these are already to replace loaded components.

Little child-friendly stroller
According to the Stiftung Warentest examiners, all the prams tested were also included „little child-friendly“. None of the strollers could participate in this checkpoint „very well“ or „Well“ cut off. Often, for example, the seats are too small and too narrow, so that large infants no longer fit. In addition, the backrests are often too low and the carrying bags or tubs too short and too tight, reports Stiftung Warentest. The Emmaljunga rain protection had even rained in and the Herlag wagon had no rain protection at all. The best test results could, according to the announcement of the Stiftung Warentest „the Cameleon of Bugaboo and the Teutonia Mistral S“ retract (quality rating: satisfactory; grade: 3,2).

Test winner with „more satisfying“ rating
The bugaboo was „easy, good on curbs, suitable for driving in the sand after the conversion and very small collapsible.“However, softeners were detectable here in the child area and the tested model cost a proud 910 euros. The Teutonia Mistral S (550 Euro) achieved a comparable overall result in the rating, but in contrast to the Bugaboo it was slightly worse in terms of child-friendly design, handling and pollutants, but this was compensated in other respects. As a relatively inexpensive model reached the „Zekiwa Alu-Cross“ (299 euros) also one „satisfying“ (Note: 3,3) in the current test. According to a report from Stiftung Warentest, the least pollution was caused by the stroller „Hartan Topline S“ (550 euros), but this is due to other deficiencies only one „sufficient“ Rating (score: 3.8) received. (Fp)