THE HIGH COST OF CONVENIENCE

The Risks of "Disposable" Diapers

CONSUMPTION OF A DWINDLING RESOURCE

Close to ten billion "disposable" diapers are manufactured from valuable wood pulp in the United States every year. This represents more than eight hundred million pounds of paper, used once then thrown away. It can not be recycled. For each baby diapered with "disposable" diapers more than half a ton of non-biodegradable waste is dumped into the environment.

THE "DISPOSABLE": A THREAT TO YOUR HEALTH

"The presence of viruses in untreated human fecal material in solid waste disposal sites originates largely from the wide-spread use of "disposable" diapers, which often excrete large numbers of enteric viruses in their feces, and viruses from land-fill sites might be leached out and contaminate underground water supplies." ⁽¹⁾

"Until such diapers are excluded from solid waste or until an effective method can be developed to disinfect such diapers before they are mixed with solid waste, these virus-laden materials will continue to present a potential threat to the health of those who handle the solid " waste, and a source of contamination of underground water when the waste is disposed of in improperly constructed land-fills." ⁽²⁾

FECAL WASTE AND MORTALITY RATES

"The communicable diseases most enumerated are those whose agents are found in fecal wastes, particularly human fecal wastes. Where these wastes are not disposed of in a sanitary manner, the morbidity rate and mortality rates from fecal-borne diseases in the population are high. Transmission whether by direct contact, vector transfer, or indirect contact is due to environmental contamination by these wastes. It has been found that communicable solid waste diseases are for the most part found in fecal waste." ⁽³⁾

"...Rainwater washing through dumps may carry viruses, which can remain alive in compacted solid waste for up to two weeks, into underground streams and from there into public and private water supplies." ⁽⁴⁾

According to the Baylor College of Medicine (1975), babies and small children excrete large numbers of enteric (intestinal) viruses. This is especially so after inoculation when the infant will excrete live viruses for 24 hours. The World Health Organization has called for an end to the inclusion of urine and fecal matter in solid wastes. In many municipalities, it is already illegal to throw human waste into solid waste land-fills.

"DISPOSABLES" AND INSTITUTIONS

The University of Oregon Survival Centre questions whether the use of "disposable" diapers by hospitals, day cares, and other institutions, might be contributing to the spread of diseases such as shigella, salmonellosis and hepatitis.

OTHER HAZARDS OF "DISPOSABLE" DIAPERS

The majority of complaints made about "disposable" diapers to the United States Consumer Protection Agency between November 1978 and March 1982 dealt with "rash". Sometimes the rash is simply called a rash. One mother called it a "severe red rash". One rash was described as a chemical burn, confirmed by a doctor. Other complaints included: babies pulling apart their "disposable" diaper and putting pieces in their mouth or nose, adhesive tabs sticking to baby and pulling off skin when removed, and burns caused by plastic covers melting onto baby's skin.

The "convenience" of "disposable" diapers comes at a considerable price not only at the check-out stand, but in terms of the negative effects on our environment and our health.

RESOURCES:

1. A study by Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
2. EPA Journal, Dr. Mirzda L. Peterson, Microbiologist
3. T.G. Hanks of HEW, Solid Waste and Disease Relationships Report
4. Dr. Mirzda Peterson (from "Report to the Consumer", Sherman Oaks, California)

This article first appeared in The Compleat Mother in the Summer'89 issue.
Reprinted with permission.

This article compliments of Born to Love