Nano-technology and baby – bamboo charcoal inserts

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I prefer regular bamboo over charcoal bamboo due to “potential” concerns… But I’m like that!

Nano-technology sounds advanced, right? It also may sound a bit scary – especially if you’ve heard a bit about the potential risks. Heck some people are just afraid of science! I’ve delayed making this post for a while because I’m not sure that I can make an entire opinion because I refuse to buy into nano-technology in cloth diapers. What’s that? Yes, charcoal bamboo inserts is nano-technology. Charcoal inserts are popular but are they okay?

I’ve posted before about some of the reasons I’m against the “cheap” cloth diapers. Yes, I’ve purchased them and that is where I formed my opinion. I thought I was saving money but really, quality is worth both the money AND it is a more conscientious decision for me. I just really *feel* bad about buying knock-off diapers. No return policy, no support and the fact that I’m doing nothing for the economy just get to me.

Charcoal inserts or regular inserts?

In the same breath of cheap cloth diapers we find charcoal bamboo since both come from “co-op” and group buys and not usually from WAHM boutiques or other stores. Not that I think everything has to come from a store, but I’m wondering why, if it is so good, hasn’t it been picked up by any of the regular cloth diaper manufacturers or any of the top 10-15 cloth diaper online stores (yes I looked them each up).

What is charcoal bamboo?

Charcoal bamboo uses the bamboo plant and heats it to such a point that it turns into charcoal. It is then ground and embedded into rayon into yarn.

According to an importer’s website, they indicate: “based on existing document, there are two main ways to produce bamboo charcoal fiber: the first way is to add nano-bamboo charcoal powder during the process of spinning in the spinning solution; the second is to add the established bamboo charcoal composite polymer master-batch in the stage of synthesising fiber.”

So basically what happens in between there? The particles are so small (hence nano technology) and when we put them into diapers, HOW much is being absorbed and can they really ever get clean? I hear a lot of complaints that people can’t get their bamboo charcoal inserts clean.

Then, when it comes to nanto technology you are talking about particles 1-100 nm long – as in very not long. Very not big. All inserts get some pilling and those pills fall off – even if bamboo charcoal has anti-pilling properties, this stuff is “good” for absorbing radiation, . Do those then make their way on to our bodies? If baby has a rash could the particles enter the body? There’s also risk of pulmonary disease (potentially, it hasn’t been ruled out) for those who are involved in production. The particles are too small to filter out. Here’s an article that discusses some concerns of nanotechnology.

Too many questions – too few answers

There are too many open questions for me to be okay with nanotechnology-based cloth diaper inserts. Until we know more about the technology, I can’t say I’m okay with charcoal bamboo inserts.