Many pollutants in children's rubber boots

Öko-Test: Almost all children's wellington boots contain harmful substances

29/08/2011

In the course of the rainy summer, rubber boots are currently very popular with parents and children. But like the consumer magazine „Eco test“ Now, in a recent research, most rubber boots contain many harmful substances, so you should be careful when buying the rainproof footwear.

In the test of 16 rubber boots models for children almost all products did not meet the requirements of the consumer magazine „Eco test“. A single pair received the grade „sufficient“, the remaining rubber boots cut „inadequate“ or „insufficient“ from. The reason for the bad rating of most rubber boots is according to the statement of Ökotest the high pollutant content. For example, the children's wellies would contain components of harmful dyes and carcinogenic chlorinated paraffins. Of the 15 rubber boots that meet the requirements of „Eco test“ not enough, three have the grade „inadequate“ and twelve the grade „insufficient“ received, reports the consumer magazine. According to the testers, a product was even called „not marketable“ assessed as the permissible limits of the banned color element p-aminoazobenzene in the laces were well above the official limit. Overall, in view of the content of harmful substances, none of the examined Wellington boot models recommended, so the statement of the experts.

Harmful substances in children's rubber boots
Above all the contained chlorinated paraffins are estimated by „Eco test“ a non-negligible health risk, as they are considered to be an environmentally hazardous substance with high bioaccumulation potential. According to the experts, the pollutants accumulate in adipose tissue, the kidneys and the liver, although the acute toxicity is relatively low, but chloroparaffins can have long-term carcinogenic effects. For example, short-chain chlorinated paraffins have been banned throughout Europe since 2002 in the metalworking industry and in leather processing. Excessive contact with the pollutants is urgently to be avoided. However, this is not easy, since most manufacturers make little information about the materials used for production explained „Eco test“. Rubber boots are usually made of synthetic rubber or a plastic mixture, through a variety of chemical tricks „waterproof and at the same time nicely cuddly“ be made, reports „Eco test“. Among other things, harmful plasticizers and plasticizer oils, which may also contain any amount of harmful substances used. However, the products are made of natural rubber „not much better, according to experience“, so the statement of the consumer magazine.

Rubber boots unsuitable for runners
Problematic is according to statement of „Eco test“ also the use of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as well as the so-called polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in the manufacture of children's rubber boots. The consumer magazine sharply criticized the lack of willingness of manufacturers to reduce the pollution in the rubber boots. In addition, rubber boots anyway are not for toddlers because „It's not as good a hold as it is in tight shoes“ said the head of Pediatric Orthopedics and Foot Surgery at the University of Freiburg, Dr. med. Ludwig Schwering. Although the wearing of rubber boots for a healthy child is basically no problem, „but runners will find the first steps in flexible boots particularly difficult“, stressed the expert. Therefore, parents should be loud „Eco test“ In any case, wait with the rubber boots purchase until the little ones „to have a reasonably safe walk“. (Fp)

Also read:
Eco-Test: Ice tea contains a lot of sugar and aromas
A lot of chemistry in purported natural cosmetics

Picture: Susanne Schmich