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New results in the diaper dispute - Independent Scientific Institutes do not find any TBT
The Hague, May 26 2000. More and more governmental authorities and scientific institutes come out against the allegations, that baby diapers are potentially hazardous because of alleged TBT contamination. In a risk assessment of organotin compounds, which the Dutch Royal Institute for Public Health and Environmental Safety (RIVM) has performed, the chemical Tributyltin (TBT) could not be detected. Moreover, the experts at the „Limnologisches Institute Dr. Nowak" have analyzed different diapers and have not found any detectable TBT.
Even if the results of the Greenpeace study are correct, a hazard for human health is not posed. The „Forum Hygiene & Umwelt" – a consortium of companies active in the hygienic paper products industry and environmental consultants has provided the following statement: „TBT is not used in the production of hygiene articles. The TBT levels announced by Greenpeace are ultra trace levels and are more than a factor of 100 below levels of concern, as defined by the BgVV (Bundesinstitut für gesundheitlichen Verbraucherschutz und Veterinärmedizin)." According to Jürgen Kundke, BgVV spokesman: „If the amount of the material and the skin contact area is taken into consideration, there is no reason for parents to worry about any harm to their child from diapers."
Also, the professional Association of Medical Practitioners (Berufsverband der Ärzte für Kinderheilkunde und Jugendmedizin Deutschlands e.V.) does not see a potential harm to human health. The spokesperson, Dr. Kilian-Kornell, emphasized: "We do not recommend stopping the usage of diapers tested by Greenpeace; at this concentration, TBT does not pose a danger for the health of babies and doesn‘t cause any poisoning." Even the very critical Öko-Test-Magazine writes in a press release: „The warnings of Greenpeace about the poison TBT are not comprehensible."
From the current evaluations, it can be summarized, that there is no health hazard to be expected. Diapers are completely harmless and safe to use. The producers take the responsibility for the safety of their products very seriously: According to industry sources only a few products have such stringent test requirements and quality standards as diapers.
The Organotin Environmental Programme Association (ORTEPA), which has been researching the effects of organotin compounds, including TBT, for years, agrees with the expert evidence.
The results of the study of the Limnologisches Institut Dr. Nowak are available from the ORTEPA.
More detailed information is available on the ORTEPA Home Page: www.ortepa.org or contact: Dr.Ulrich Stewen, Vice Chairman ORTEPA, Phone 001 914 593 4045 or Dr. Ursula Gerigk, ORTEPA, Phone 02307 65 2487.