Question from SANDY MOSKOVITZ
I’m wondering if anyone knows if there are health issues involved in using PUL fabric for diaper covers.
Thanks for your help!
Sandy Moskovitz
Princeton, NJ
Debra’s Answer
PUL is short for Polyurethane Laminate, which is an aromatic polyether polyurethane film/sheet. It is used for bibs, diaper covers, and other baby products because of it’s excellent resistance to water and fungus.
This is a plastic, made from petrochemicals. It is made from a nonrenewable resource and is not biodegradable.
I’d opt for bibs and diaper covers made from natural ingredients.
There are no diisocyanates present in the polyurethane lamination. Diisocyanates are a respiratory hazard for which inhalation and dermal contact should be avoided. PUL is formed by reacting polyol with diisocyanates in the presence of suitable catalysts and additives. This makes the thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) from initial stages of the polymerization. This process is completed in a factory within a controlled environment. Once the polymer is made, these initial substances cease to exist as they were and have formed another compound known as TPU. The newly created TPU is an inert material. The Material Safety Data Sheet for TPU states that it only releases harmful chemicals above 428F degrees. This is true for all plastics.
If any TPU was heated to such a high melting point, they could release toxic fumes but this is not the case in a stable product with regular use. TPU is used on open wound dressings as the waterproof film that stops fluids from seeping out. One of the reasons TPU is used in this application is that it is not an irritant. Beyond dressings, TPU is used in many medical invasive applications approved by the US FDA. So PUL is unlikely to expose your child to potentially toxic fumes or chemicals.
Obviously it is still plastic at the end of the day, so has some environmental impact. However you probably need some kind of waterproofing in your diaper covers and PUL shouldn’t harm your baby.
(Information taken from https://www.newandgreen.com/blogs/news/56943363-pul-eez-tell-me-its-safe-a-look-at-the-safety-of-pul-fabric-in-cloth-diapers)
The health effects that you refer to are for isocyanates, not polyurethane laminate (PUL), according to the link to OSHA that your provide. Isocyanates are used to make PUL, but there are now isocyanates in PUL, so the health risks of isocyanates are irrelevant for PUL.
I don’t know if PUL is safe or not, but the information you’ve included here is misleading.
Kind regards,
Heidi
(with a PhD in chemistry)
Thank you, Heidi. I have updated the response. I am always happy to have reader input to correct any mistakes and add additional insight and knowledge.