Health

• Disposable diapers contain traces of the carcinogenic toxin Dioxin (1), a by-product of the bleaching of paper with chlorine
  
  
• The EPA Lists Dioxin as the most toxic of all cancer-linked chemicals (1)
  
  
• Dioxin is banned in most countries, but not in the United States (1)
  
  
• Disposables contain Sodium Polyacrylate, a type of super absorbent polymer (SAP) (2)
  
  
• SAP is the material inside disposable diapers that absorbs urine and turns to gel
  
  
• SAP was banned from tampons due to links to toxic shock syndrome (2)
  
  
• Scrotal temperature is increased in boys wearing disposable diapers which some studies suggest may lead to fertility issues later in life (3)

1 Allsopp, Michelle. Achieving Zero Dioxin: An emergency strategy for dioxin elimination. September 1994. Greenpeace. http://archive.greenpeace.org/toxics/reports/azd/azd.html

2 Armstrong, Liz and Adrienne Scott Whitewash: Exposing the Health and Environmental Dangers of Women's Sanitary Products and Disposable Diapers, What You Can Do About It. 1993. HarperCollins.

3 C-J Partsch, M Aukamp, W G Sippell Scrotal temperature is increased in disposable plastic lined nappies. Division of Paediatric Endocrinology, Department of Paediatrics, Christian-Albrechts- University of Kiel, Schwanenweg 20, D-24105 Kiel, Germany. Arch Dis Child 2000;83:364-368.