If Santa is planning on giving your child an electronic tablet for the holidays, you may need to have a conversation with the jolly old fellow. A newly released study reports that some of the most popular electronic tablets for kids contain at least one of the following hazardous chemicals: lead, brominated flame retardants (bromine), and chlorine (PVC).
Read more about brominated flame retardants
The study, which was released by HealthyStuff.org, a project of The Ecology Center, a nonprofit environmental organization that “works at the local, state, and national levels for clean production, healthy communities, environmental justice, and a sustainable future,” collected and analyzed 103 samples from four tablets: LeapFrog LeadPad 2 Explorer, Fuhu Nabi Jr., Kurio Touch 4S, and VTech InnoTab 3.
Here’s what the investigators found when they analyzed each of these electronic tablets:
Fuhu Nabi Jr.: The back and front case had low levels of bromine and chlorine chemistry flame retardants. Inside the tablet, the circuit board contained high levels of bromine and low amounts of lead. The screen also showed low levels of lead.
LeapFrog LeadPad 2 Explorer: High levels of bromine were found in the interior of the tablet in the circuit board and circuit components as well as lower levels of chlorine and some lead. The case was found to contain low levels of heavy metals and halogens (e.g., bromine, chlorine, and fluorine).
VTech Inno Tab 3: This tablet’s interior contained the highest level of bromine of all the tablets tested; that is, 160,683 parts per million, which was ten times the amount found in the Fuhu Nabi Jr..
Kurio Touch 4S: The case of this tablet tested very low but the interior contained high levels of chlorine and bromine and some lead.
(HealthyStuff.org provides a detailed breakdown of the substances found in each of the four electronic tablets.)
The interiors of all four tablets contained levels of bromine that suggested the use of brominated flame retardants. These chemicals are similar in structure to PCBs, which have been associated with reproductive problems, damage to the fetal brain, and cancer. These retardants persist in the environment and also can accumulate in the body.
Where the dangers lie
Are your children and others in danger if they use these electronic tablets? Yes, although perhaps not in the way you think they are. While it is true these tablets and many other electronic devices contain chemicals, heavy metals, and other toxins that can pose a health risk, the real danger is in their cumulative effects, both directly and indirectly.
You and your children are surrounded by hazardous substances in food, water, furniture, packaging, and thousands of everyday products. Avoiding them can be challenging, but every time you learn about a different source of toxins, you can take steps to reduce or eliminate your exposure. That’s what we do when we learn more about GMOs, , BPA in plastic bottles, and arsenic in our water.
Thus, one danger posed by these electronic tablets is the contribution they make to the cumulative effect on our health. The other is the impact on the environment and the associated health effects of that impact.
New information from the Solving the E-Waste Problem (StEP) initiative, which is a coalition of United Nations organizations, governments, nongovernment organizations, and science groups, notes that in five years, the amount of e-waste will increase by one-third from the 49 million tons produced in 2012. Currently, much of the e-waste is thrown into landfills, where the hazardous substances can leach into the soil and ground water and make its way into the human body.
Yet there’s another way these chemicals can hurt children. Much e-waste is shipped to developing countries where children often break it down for scrap. These young people also are exposed to the toxins released from burning the plastics to recover the copper and other profitable materials in the e-waste.
Electronic products are not going away, and unfortunately the toxic chemicals in them linger in the environment and in the bodies of our children. We now have a generation that is growing up with exposure to these products, directly and indirectly, from the beginning of their life.
What you can do
Be aware that electronic tablets and other devices (including cell phones) contain hazardous materials and if you are going to buy such products, look for those that contain the least amount of toxins (HealthyStuff.org is a good place to start)
Keep these items away from small children who may put them in their mouth
Do not allow children to take tablets or other devices apart
Recycle tablets, cell phones, laptops, and other electronic equipment responsibly. According to the Electronics Take Back Coalition, you can take electronics to any Staples or Best Buy in your area (I have often done this), donate working items to a school or thrift store, find a local e-waste recycler, or try a free recycling program offered by some manufacturers.
This much is true: technology is here to stay. Kids want the devices. And until the manufacturers find ways to significantly reduce or eliminate hazardous materials in electronic tablets and similar items and we each dispose of these devices in a responsible manner, they will continue to pose a health risk to our children and others around the world.
A note from the founder, Andrea Donsky: Although a different type toxic exposure, we recently found a research-proven cell phone case that can decrease your exposure to radiation by up to 80%. Both my partner Randy and I have one, and I feel this is a sound investment if you are carrying a cell phone, texting, or talking on a phone. We asked the manufacturer to provide our readers with a special price. You can learn more or purchase one for 10% off here.
Photo credit: nooccar
