How 'bad' are disps really?

I was talking to some disp using friends and we were having a discussion about disps v cloth. I stated that a major factor for me in using cloth was concern about the chemical gels used in disposible nappies. In fact, we switched to cloth in the first place because DD1 suffered a horrendus (think chemical burns) reaction to one particular brand of disposible nappy. Basically, they were rather dismissive of this concern, arguing that gels and other things in disps are surely subject to government legislation and therefore 'must' be safe. Are they right? Can anyone point me in the direction of any info/research on this issue?

TIA.

I know someone who works for P&G and she told me that in the factories where they make Pampers, the staff have to wear masks because of the chemicals that goes into them.

As for government legislation saying they are safe... well we are all allowed to smoke, drive, drink (not at the same time!), cross a road etc... paracetamol is banned in the US...

Parabens are allowed in toiletries and they are proven carcenagenics

Sodium Polyacralyte – A super absorber used inside the nappy to suck moisture away from the inner of the nappy and retain it. Very drying so may cause skin irritation. In the past it has been linked to toxic shock syndrome and was banned from women’s sanitary products years ago. Extremely difficult to break down on soil and may take at least 100 years.

http://www.screaminggreen.co.uk/Advice/Chemicals/

my son also got chemical burns for disp's and he has allircie reaction to most brands all by boots natrual brand one's but he only wear them at nioght with lots of bum cream.

bean's in colth from day one if he stay's put for a little longer DP even asked how to wash them as he was not really in to them till now

i hope you find the link's usefull as i wouldn't want any of that near my babys bum.

Recently in the news there was a massive explosion in a factory in Asia that is responsible for most of the acrylic in the world's disposable nappies. That might be a good source of info for chemicals as if you think about it, disposables are just paper really, so they do need a LOT more chemicals than cloth and I don't know about you, but I can't say I've ever read the "ingredients" on a packet. Plus even if I did, I wouldn't understand it.

Parabens are allowed in toiletries and they are proven carcenagenics

Sodium Polyacralyte – A super absorber used inside the nappy to suck moisture away from the inner of the nappy and retain it. Very drying so may cause skin irritation. In the past it has been linked to toxic shock syndrome and was banned from women’s sanitary products years ago. Extremely difficult to break down on soil and may take at least 100 years.

http://www.screaminggreen.co.uk/Advice/Chemicals/

I'm actually really shocked by that. If it's banned for us grown women whose skin has matured, why are we exposing our babies' immature, porous skin to that??

Parabens are allowed in toiletries and they are proven carcenagenics

Sodium Polyacralyte – A super absorber used inside the nappy to suck moisture away from the inner of the nappy and retain it. Very drying so may cause skin irritation. In the past it has been linked to toxic shock syndrome and was banned from women’s sanitary products years ago. Extremely difficult to break down on soil and may take at least 100 years.

http://www.screaminggreen.co.uk/Advice/Chemicals/

I'm actually really shocked by that. If it's banned for us grown women whose skin has matured, why are we exposing our babies' immature, porous skin to that??

Because it cant cause toxic shock and kill babies therefore obviously its safe *sigh* this is one of the reasons I use cloth and only use natural toiletries. I dont want all these chemicals on my, let alone my LO's skin!

@Bluebell -paracetamol is not banned in the US at all it's called acetaminophen or Tylenol

I don't know about you, but I can't say I've ever read the "ingredients" on a packet. Plus even if I did, I wouldn't understand it.

Interestingly I looked to try and find the ' ingredients' on a pack of sposies ages ago as I want to compare them with the ' Eco' sposies and the big brand names didn t list any ingredients on the packet :/