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| |    Disposable Diapers: Are They Dangerous? by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. reviewed by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. Ever since they were introduced, disposable diapers have provoked their share of controversy. Now one widely reported study suggests there might be a new reason for parents to question their use: they may cause later health problems for the male infants who wear them. Over the past 50 years, the average sperm count worldwide in human males has fallen and cancer of the testicle (although still rare) has risen. In a recently published study, doctors in Germany reported that infants who wore plastic-covered disposable diapers experienced higher testicle temperature than when they were clad in cloth diapers. This is significant because higher temperatures are known to reduce sperm counts in adult men. Although testicles don't produce mature sperm until after a male reaches puberty, researchers speculate that higher testicular temperatures in infancy might interfere with the early stages of sperm development and produce problems that only would be evident later in life. Unanswered questions Do we now add disposable diapers to the list of technological advances that turn out to be harmful to society? Not yet, I hope. Although the German study was well done, it left several important questions unanswered, including the all-important matter of proving that higher temperatures actually cause harm to the testiclesthe scientists did not measure testicle function; the only thing they measured was temperature. Other studies will have to forge that direct link. No scientific research is perfect. It would be foolish to wait for 100 percent certainty before making decisions that can protect babies. On the other hand, decisions made on the basis of a singly study often turn out to be wrong. A recent example was a study two years ago showing that zinc lozenges were an effective treatment for colds in children. A year later, the same researchers reported that a follow-up study showed no effect. That is simply the nature of medical science, and highlights the need for parents to keep up with current research. There are many possible causes for the observed drop in sperm counts over the last 50 years (including, for example, pesticides and sedentary lifestyles). The idea that overheating caused by plastic-coated diapers is to blame is intriguing, but it's simply too early to tell. The "bottom" line There are several reasons you might want to choose cloth over disposable diapers. For example, it's clear that disposable diapers pose a real solid-waste disposal problem. Do you want your child to inherit a world that is home to, literally, mountains of old dirty diapers? On the other hand, cloth diapers have their own drawbacks, such as the natural resources consumed by diaper company delivery trucks and cleaning processes. This is a decision with no clear right answer.
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