Finnish _Kuluttuja-lehti _("Consumer magazine") has found that four of the most-sold brands of children's prams carry health-endangering chemicals.
Only the Emmaljunga and Stokke brands received good grades in the chemical tests, whereas in four other brands there were many chemicals detected, including amounts that exceeded EU limits.
Tests on the handles, seats, and carry cots found traces of chemicals such as PAH compounds, which have been linked to cancer and risk of increased infertility. Traces of reproductive ability-depleting phthalates, suspicious flame retardants, and chlorinated paraffins, which are harmful to the environment, were also found.
Nevertheless, the amounts of chemicals found do not necessarily pose an immediate health hazard. For example, small amounts of PAH compounds can be found in the air and in food.
The EU has restricted PAH compounds to one milligram per kilogram in consumer goods; in children's products, the limit is half a milligram per kilogram.
