[April 22, 2015]

Hidden Dangers to Infants Lurk in "Healthy and Clean" Neighborhoods

Raising children in newly-developed suburban environments evokes thoughts of playing tag (News - Alert) under sunny skies and flying kites in fresh breezes. Far from the gritty city and congested inner suburbs, parents may be lulled into believing that children born into this setting benefit from a cleaner environment. What parents may not realize is that, often, drinking water is poorly regulated, resulting in dangerous and sometimes life-threatening conditions, especially for infants.

Blue Baby Syndrome, or methemoglobinemia, is caused by ingesting high levels of nitrates, usually via drinking water. Nitrates decrease the blood's ability to carry oxygen. Most at risk are infants bottle-fed with tap water. Many appear healthy, but develop signs of blueness around the mouth, hands and feet. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, vomiting and diarrhea. As conditions worsen, babies experience seizures and lose consciousness. If untreated, the syndrome is fatal.

In newly-develoed suburban and semi-rural areas, this situation is all too possible. Run-off waters from farm fields and agricultural lands include fertilizer and manure, high in nitrates. Leaking septic tanks can contaminate water with nitrates, as can erosion of natural deposits. Nitrates cannot be removed by boiling.

Fortunately, a simple DIY test kit can eliminate worry and provide results for proper water treatment methods. H2O OK™ and H2O OK Plus™, available at Home Depot and Lowes online and in stores April 27th, are in-home water test kits that screen for nitrates and also iron, hardness, chlorine, pH, copper, nitrites and alkalinity. H2O OK Plus™ additionally tests for lead, bacteria and pesticides, also a concern in developing areas. Each package includes two complete tests for most test conditions measured against EPA and LabTech® standards, vials, easy to follow illustrated instructions in English and Spanish, and website links to help parents remedy water contamination. Visit www.labtechtests.com for additional information about each test kit.

Blue Baby Syndrome can be fatal, but is avoidable when EPA-compliant testing is conducted. By using H2O OK™ and H2O OK Plus™, parents can assess nitrate levels and take steps to keep infants safe.

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