The new test, during which several parts of "Pampers® Baby Dry Mini" were analysed, found the highest contamination in the belt section of these nappies. "Pampers® Baby Dry Mini" contained up to 38.4 micrograms of TBT per kilogram, a much higher level then in the first tests of a pool sample published last Friday. (1) Furthermore the inner and outer layer were found to be contaminated. Greenpeace also found other organotin compounds in the Pampers®, including DBT and MBT. If all discovered organotin compounds were added, a total of 53.2 micrograms per kilogram were found.

Greenpeace's scientific test results contradict a statement by Procter & Gamble, in which the company last Friday denied that its nappies were contaminated with organotin compounds. Greenpeace toxics expert Thilo Maack said: "The reaction of Procter & Gamble is a scandal. The company is downplaying the danger instead of actively searching for the source of TBT in Pampers®. It is absolutely irresponsible to expose babies to these extremely toxic substances".

"Fact is that TBT is one of the most toxic substances ever made, and it is being spread through the environment. It can be absorbed through the skin and contaminates the environment as well as people," he noted.

This environmental pollutant, which has been in the headlines for months because of its extremely high toxicity, has a hormone-like effect. The smallest concentrations of TBT can harm people's immune systems and impair their hormonal system. "The German government must ban this toxin in all areas of use immediately," says Thilo Maack.

Greenpeace last January found TBT in fish for human consumption, and in March detected TBT in football shirts despite textile manufacturers declaring them safe again. TBT has furthermore recently been found in plastic PVC floorings. Witco, a company in Bergkamen/Germany, produces 80 per cent of the TBT used in the world. The smallest quantities of TBT kill algae and mussels and for that reason it is used in ships' paints to stop their growth on hulls.

Greenpeace has been calling on the chemical and ship industries to ban its production or application. There are less harmful alternatives to TBT in all the spheres in which organotin compounds are used. Greenpeace is at present analysing other brands of nappies on sale in Germany. Its findings will be available by the end of this week.

Procter & Gamble's Pampers® "Baby Dry", the Paul Hartmann company's "Fixies Ultra Dry", and LedysanSpa's "United Colours of Benetton Junior unisex" brands are contaminated with TBT and other organotin compounds. This was proven by analyses made on Greenpeace's behalf.

Greenpeace activists protested today in front of the Ministry of Economy in Berlin and gave officials 500 nappies. They held a banner reading, "Attention: TBT Poison in Nappies!"

Contamination of these nappies ranged from 4.2 microgrammes of TBT per kilogram in the Benetton nappies, through to 4.7 mg TBT/kg in Fixies, and to 8.6 mg TBT/kg in Pampers®. Other organotin compounds such as dibutyl tin and monobutyl tin were also found. These chemicals come from a part of the nappies which is in direct contact with babies' skin.

"TBT is one of the most toxic substances ever made, and it is being spread through the environment," says Greenpeace's toxics expert, Thilo Maack. "It can be absorbed through the skin and contaminates the environment as well as people. It is absolutely irresponsible to expose babies to these extremely toxic substances."

This environmental pollutant, which has been in the headlines for months because of its extremely high toxicity, has a hormone-like effect. The smallest concentrations of TBT can damage people's immune systems and impair their hormonal system. "The German government must ban this toxin in all areas of use immediately," says Thilo Maack.

Greenpeace last January found TBT in fish for human consumption and in March detected TBT in football shirts despite textile manufacturers declaring them safe again. Furthermore, TBT has recently been found in plastic PVC floorings.

Witco, a company in Bergkamen/Germany, produces 80 per cent of the TBT used in the world. The smallest quantities of TBT kill algae and mussels and for that reason it is used in ships' paints to stop their growth on hulls.

Greenpeace has been calling on the chemical and ship industries to ban TBT production or application. There are less harmful alternatives to TBT in all the spheres in which organotin compounds are used. Greenpeace is at present analysing other brands of nappies on sale in Germany. Its findings will be available next week.