The CNN “The Chart” blog reported, “More than HALF of 2011 model children’s car seats contain one or more potentially hazardous chemicals, but the seats fared far better than previous years.
Healthystuff.org, a project of the environmental non-profit The Ecology Center, found ‘chemicals of concern’ in 60% of the more than 150 seats tested, including brominated flame retardants, arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury.”
WebMD reported, “Some child car safety seats may contain hazardous chemicals including flame retardants, according to the fourth annual report by the Ecology Center, an Ann Arbor, Mich.-based nonprofit environmental organization.”
Scientists there “tested more than 150 2011-model infant, convertible, and booster car seats for the presence of potentially harmful chemicals including brominated flame retardants, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), lead, and heavy metal allergens.
These chemicals have been associated with reproductive and developmental health problems and certain cancers in animal and some human studies,” WebMD explained.
The article went on to list child car safety seats with the most and least hazardous chemicals for each of the three categories tested.
According to the new report, the WORST child car safety seats with the MOST hazardous chemicals in each of the three categories include:

• Infant Seat: Graco Snugride 35 in Edgemont Red/Black & Graco SnugRide 30 in Asprey
• Convertible Seat: Britax Marathon 70in Jet Set & Britax Marathon in Platinum
• Booster Seat: Recaro Pro Booster in Blue Opal & Recaro ProSPORT Toddlerin Misty

By contrast, the BEST 2011 car seats with the LEAST hazardous chemicals tested in each of the three categories include:

• Infant Seat: Chicco KeyFit 30 in Limonata, Graco Snugride 35 in Laguna Bay & Combi Shuttle 33 in Cranberry Noche
• Convertible Carseat: Graco Comfort Sport in Caleo, Graco MyRide 65 in Chandler and Streamer, Safety 1st OnSide Air in Clearwater, and Graco Nautilus Elite 3-in-1 in Gabe
• Booster Seat: Graco Turbo Booster in Anders