Resources about Plastics in Child Care Settings for Parents and Providers
Certain types of plastics contain chemicals such as phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene that may be toxic to children. These plastics can be found in baby bottles, sippy cups, teething rings, pacifiers, and toys. When these items are in a child's mouth or when they are heated (such as in a microwave), children can be exposed to harmful chemicals that have the potential to mimic or suppress hormones and disrupt normal growth and development. The following links provide information about the dangers of these types of plastics and the steps that can be taken to prevent toxic contamination as a result of plastics in a childcare facility.
Resources
- Children's Environmental Health Network - Eco-Healthy Child Care: Plastics and Plastic Toys
- Mount Sinai's Children's Environmental Health Center - Video by Dr. Maida Galvez Speaking on Plastics and Childhood Exposure (9:50 Run Time)
- University of CA, San Francisco - California Childcare Health Program - Banning Chemicals Called Phthalates in Childhood Products (1 pp, 81 K, PDF)
