Child safety is our top concern at Halloween. We accompany our kids to the houses they go to. We make sure they stay in well-lit areas. We inspect their candy to make sure it hasn't been tampered with.
Safety also needs to be ensured in their costumes. And unfortunately there are plenty of hazards to keep us busy in our efforts to protect our children from harm.
Researchers from HealthyStuff.org tested 106 Halloween costumes, along with deorations and accessories. They found 33 products to contain vinyl or PVC components.
Of the products, 5 percent contained lead at greater than 100 parts per million (ppm).
They found brominated flame retardants in 10 percent of the products.
Bromine irritates skin, mucous membranes, and tissues. It works by directly irritating the skin, mucous membranes, and tissues.
An article from the CDC reported, "Breathing bromine gas could cause you to cough, have trouble breathing, get a headache, have irritation of your mucous membranes (inside your mouth, nose, etc.), be dizzy, or have watery eyes."
Brominated flame retardants have been found to be linked to cancer and endocrine disruption according to an article from the Environmental Working Group.
The flame retardant antimony, which the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) says may be an endocrine disruptor, was found in 32 percent of the products.
Some store-bought costumes were found to contain antimony, bromine, chlorine, lead and phthalates.
Accessories tested included light sticks, tiaras, butterfly sets and Halloween bags.Unwanted chemicals included antimony, bromine, chlorine and tin.
Decorations included LED C3 lights which had high levels of antimony, bromine and chlorine. Some wall art contained high levels of phthalates and chlorine as well as medium levels of cadmium.
Masks and fake teeth may be made from unknown synthetic materials. Phthalates which are hormone disruptors are often found in plastics, something you don't want on your child's face.
Face-painting substances should be researched carefully before you buy them since lead and other toxins can be found in some types of makeup.
Some face paints contain lead. Lead can hinder brain development even in small doses. Cobalt, chromium and nickel can also be found in face paint. These can cause contact dermatitis and skin sensitization.
Lead is also in some lipsticks, especially bad for children who will eat it off their lips. Lip balms with beeswax base is a safer option.
Powdered makeup is dangerous to sinuses and lungs if inhaled.
Hairspray and spray-on hair color can also be damaging when inhaled. To jazz up your children's hair safely, think about wigs or hats that accent their costumes. Or do their hair up creatively with ribbons and barrettes.
Products whose labels say they contain "Fragrance" can contain chemicals which are hormone disrupting and allergens.
Nail polishes may contain toluene and dibutyl phthalate both of which have been seen to have links to cancer and hormone disruption.
The Environmental Working Group's database for makeup is a helpful resource.
To avoid toxins, HealthyStuff.org suggested that you stay away from carcinogenic vinyl products for your child at Halloween. Natural materials, either store-bought or home-made, are a safer choice.
Using a cloth shopping bag or pillowcase for your child's trick or treating loot is safer than buying a bag made from unknown elements.
Making your own decorations with natural materials, and recyclable products such as cardboard or paper, are better for your children.
Cleaning out and carving a pumpkin for your children is safer than buying a plastic jack o'lantern. Play up the harvest-time feature with natural decorations like hay bales, gourds and other organic ornaments.
Candles should be fragrance-free and made from bee, palm or soy wax, rather than from paraffin wax which contain petroleum by-products. If you don't have safe candles, don't use any.
Sources:
How Green Is Your Halloween? EWG.org. Retrieved Oct. 27, 2014.
http://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2010/10/how-green-your-halloween
Facts about Bromine. CDC.gov. Retrieved Oct. 29, 2014.
http://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/bromine/basics/facts.asp
PBDEs - Fire Retardants in Dust: Brominated Fire Retardants. EWG.org. Retrieved Oct. 29, 2014.
http://www.ewg.org/research/pbdes-fire-retardants-dust/brominated-fire-r...
Polyethylene Terephthalate May Yield Endocrine Disruptors. NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov. Retrieved Oct. 29, 2014.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2854718
Visit Jody's website at http://www.ncubator.ca
Reviewed October 29, 2014
by Michele Blacksberg RN