United States: According to recent studies, babies’ and children’s mattresses and bedding products release toxic chemicals and flame retardants that may cause problems with development and hormones.
Chemical Exposure in Sleeping Children
According to the senior study author Miriam Diamond, a professor in the Earth Sciences Department at the University of Toronto, “We measured chemicals in the air of 25 children’s bedrooms between the ages of 6 months and 4 years and found worrisome levels of more than two dozen phthalates, flame retardants and UV filters,” CNN Health reported.
Measuring results from this research revealed that these chemicals reached their peak extent near where little ones sleep.
This discovery appeared in Environmental Science & Technology’s Tuesday publication.
A second study performed by Diamond’s team examined sixteen newly purchased children’s mattresses to determine they were responsible for creating the maximum chemical exposure.
Safety Standards Ignore Real-World Sleep Conditions
Research simulations indicated that combined heat and pressure from a small body during sleep enhance chemical reactions, releasing toxic substances from the materials.
According to Jane Houlihan, research director for Healthy Babies, “They found that even something as simple as a child’s body heat and weight on a mattress can increase the release of toxic chemicals into the air they breathe while sleeping – a factor that current safety standards don’t consider,” CNN Health reported.
Bright Futures stands as an organization that combines scientists and donors alongside nonprofits to promote protection for babies from neurotoxic chemicals.
Toxic Chemicals Found Across All Mattress Types
The new research did not have her participation as a part. The researchers revealed to CNN that the unidentified mattresses originated from major retail locations, although brand names were excluded from the study.
The testing team acquired their mattresses from Canadian retailers, including materials sourced in the US and Mexico.
According to Diamond, the findings should be applicable to all mattresses purchased in North America.
“The results show that parents can’t shop their way out of the problem,” as per Houlihan.
” The mattresses tested emitted toxic chemicals regardless of their price, materials, or country of origin. And some contained additives above legal limits,” he added.
The American Chemistry Council, which represents US chemical, plastic, and chlorine industry members, through an email to CNN, emphasized their emphasis on safety.
“The use of flame retardant chemistries can be critical in situations where an accidental spark or short-circuited wire turns into a flame,” as per Tom Flanagin, who is the group’s senior director of product communications.
“While we will need time to review the study in detail, the mere presence of chemistry is not an indication of risk or adverse effect. Today, any chemistry introduced or imported into the US must undergo rigorous review and approval processes by federal agencies, such as EPA and FDA,” he added.