We try to protect our children from toxins in their environment and in their food, but what about their feet?  Have you ever wondered how toxic your child’s shoes are?

It’s relatively well-known that popular light up tennis shoes contain mercury and are difficult to dispose of properly.  But what about sandals?

As the weather warms, our children shift from wearing shoes with socks, that provide a little barrier between their skin and their shoes, to sandals in which their feet are directly sweating and in contact with the foot bed.

Shockingly, the Washington Toxic Coalition (WTC) found some baby sandals contain 44 percent phthalates!

Thanks to Washington’s Department of Ecology (Ecology), consumers anywhere can find out what toxic chemicals were found in more than 200 children’s products, including clothing and shoes. Ecology tested these products distributed by retailers to see if their products are in compliance with the law.

The most shocking result was for a pair of baby shoes with orange soles and little brown plastic straps. The orange soles were tested at a whopping 44 percent phthalates!

Scientific evidence links phthalates to hormone disruption and other serious health problems. Phthalates are chemicals added to plastic to make it soft and pliable. The CSPA set limits in children’s products on six of the most commonly used phthalates and 44 percent phthalates in the little orange shoes is an amount grossly over state and federal limits for phthalates. This particular pair of baby shoes is designed for warm weather wear, so the high-phthalate soles could lay directly on baby’s skin for hours a day.

I am thankful Washington state is leading the way in testing and regulating safer products for our children.  The lesson to be learned is we must look at the whole child from top to bottom in our protection efforts.

Via:  Eco Watch