Car seats testing positive for hazardous chemicals

We put them in our cars to help keep our kids safe, but apparently they could hold a hidden danger too.

The nonprofit Ecology Center released the results of a new study that showed that more than half of the car seats they tested that were sold in the United States this year contained at least one hazardous chemical.

The researchers tested more than 150 different car seat models for bromine, chlorine, lead, other heavy metals, and allergens and found about 60% of them had at lease one.

Chemicals like bromine, chlorine, and lead have been connected to allergies, birth defects, and even cancer.

Although the knowledge is important the researchers also point out that the levels of the chemicals found were not dangerous.

The Most Toxic 2011 Car Seats identified in the testing including:

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

The Least Toxic 2011 Car Seats from the testing 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