Many
parents have asked whether the chemicals phosphorus, arsenic
and antimony, and the household fungi which can generate gas
from those chemicals, are likely to be present in
bedding.
The answer is yes!
In 1989 Mr Barry Richardson, a British
scientist, analyzed a large number of mattresses on which
babies had died of crib death, in order to find out:
-
Whether the mattresses contained the
household fungus Scopulariopsis brevicaulis
-
Whether the mattresses contained
phosphorus, arsenic or antimony
-
Whether the mattresses were capable of
toxic gas generation
He found that:
-
EVERY mattress was infected with the
fungus - both the organism and its
spores (spores = dormant state).
-
EVERY mattress contained phosphorus,
arsenic and/or antimony
-
EVERY mattress, once brought to body
temperature, started generating one or more
of the highly toxic gases phosphine, arsine and stibine.
(For more research information, please see
our "Research" link
for a list of published sources.)
In 1996 Dr
Sprott had a range of baby bedding items analyzed for the
presence of phosphorus, arsenic and antimony.
Set out below are the results of analysis (also available on
Dr Sprott's web page).
These results show that the chemicals in question are
present in almost every kind of infant mattress and in a
wide range of other infant bedding. If any one of the
chemicals phosphorus, arsenic and antimony are present in a
baby's mattress, and if certain household fungi become
established in the mattress (which can occur shortly after a
baby begins sleeping on a mattress), toxic gas generation
may occur in the mattress. Even if the baby does not die of
crib death from ingesting these gas/es, other physiological
damage may result. (There is mounting evidence in the US
that the presence of antimony and arsenic in children's
mattresses is linked to the upsurge in autism among US
children.)
Research carried out on living toddlers in Britain in
1994 showed that of 45 toddlers, 29 had high levels of
antimony in hair, as compared with their mothers (the
control group). Some toddlers had as much as 5000ng/g of
antimony in their hair, and 1 had 17,000ng/g (an extremely
high concentration!) This research clearly showed that
something in the domestic environment experienced by the
toddlers and not by their mothers had caused very high
levels of antimony to be present in the toddlers' hair. And
the only significant difference between the domestic
environment of a baby as compared with the domestic
environment of his or her mother is the baby's sleeping
environment. Thus the research provides clear support of the
toxic gas theory for crib death.
The
conclusion? Cover babies' mattresses with
BabeSafe to prevent exposure to
these toxic gases which research has shown can be generated in
mattresses and other bedding.
|
BEDDING ANALYSIS
Compounds of the elements phosphorus, arsenic and
antimony are very frequently present in bedding. In
some instances they are added as part of the
manufacturing process (e.g. for fire retardant or
plasticising purposes). In other instances they
occur naturally (e.g. in sheepskins, kapok and tree
bark).
Action of household fungi on these compounds can
produce extremely toxic nerve gases. These are,
respectively, phosphines from compounds of
phosphorus; arsines from compounds of arsenic; and
stibines from compounds of antimony. These gases
shut down the central nervous system, resulting in
cessation of heart and breathing function, thereby
causing cot death.
A wide selection of items of baby bedding acquired
in New Zealand (comprising new bedding, used
bedding, and bedding on which cot deaths had
occurred) was analysed for the presence of
phosphorus, arsenic and antimony by Rooney
Laboratories Ltd, Basingstoke, England.
Analysis showed that all three elements were
present, phosphorus being especially prevalent.
Sheepskins were shown to contain all three elements.
|
| Mfr |
New products
|
phosphorus |
arsenic |
antimony |
|
| A |
Waterproof wool mattress cover |
+++ |
- |
- |
| A |
Bassinet mattress (polyester inner) |
++ |
- |
+++ |
| A |
Bassinet mattress (foam inner) |
- |
- |
- |
| B |
Imported PVC cot sheet |
+++ |
- |
- |
| C |
PVC-lined cotton mattress protector
|
++ |
- |
- |
| D |
Acrylic underblanket |
+ |
- |
- |
| E |
Sheepskin baby rug |
+++++ |
+ |
++ |
| F |
Lambskin rug |
+++++ |
+ |
+++ |
| G |
Ti-tree bark bassinet mattress |
+++ |
- |
- |
| H |
Innersprung cot mattress |
++ |
- |
- |
| I |
Ventilated cot mattress |
++ |
- |
++++ |
| J |
Kapok |
++++ |
- |
- |
| K |
Innersprung cot mattress |
++++ |
- |
++++ |
| L |
Imported innersprung mattress |
+++ |
- |
+ |
|
| No. |
Used products
|
phosphorus |
arsenic |
antimony |
|
| 1 |
Sheepskin baby rug |
+++++ |
+ |
+++ |
| 2 |
Bassinet mattress |
++++ |
- |
- |
| 3 |
Innersprung mattress |
+++++ |
- |
- |
| 4 |
Foam mattress |
++++ |
- |
- |
| 5 |
Foam mattress |
+++++ |
- |
- |
| 6 |
Innersprung mattress |
+++++ |
- |
+ |
| 7 |
Coconut fibre |
++++++ |
+ |
- |
| 8 |
Foam mattress |
++ |
- |
- |
| 9 |
Reconstituted foam mattress |
+++++ |
- |
- |
| 10 |
Innersprung mattress |
++++ |
- |
+ |
| 11 |
Innersprung mattress |
++++ |
- |
+ |
| 12 |
Innersprung mattress |
+++++ |
- |
+++ |
| 13 |
Innersprung mattress |
++++ |
- |
- |
| 14 |
Innersprung mattress |
+++ |
- |
- |
| 15 |
Innersprung mattress |
+++++ |
- |
- |
|
| No. |
Cot death baby bedding |
phosphorus |
arsenic |
antimony |
|
| CD1 |
Pillow cover |
++ |
- |
- |
| CD1 |
Pillow polyester inner |
+ |
- |
+++ |
| CD2 |
Mattress cover |
+++ |
- |
- |
| CD2 |
Mattress foam |
++ |
++ |
- |
| CD3 |
Mattress cover |
+++ |
- |
- |
| CD3 |
Mattress foam |
+++ |
+ |
- |
| CD3 |
Sheepskin rug |
++++++ |
+ |
++++ |
| CD4 |
Mattress cover |
+++ |
- |
- |
| CD4 |
Mattress foam |
- |
- |
- |
| CD5 |
Mattress foam |
+ |
- |
- |
| CD5 |
Mattress cover |
+++++ |
- |
- |
| CD5 |
Sheepfleece underlay |
+++ |
- |
- |
| CD5 |
Sheepskin rug |
+++++ |
+ |
+++ |
| CD5 |
Wool blanket |
++ |
- |
- |
|
| - |
= |
not detected |
(<10mg/kg) |
| + |
= |
10 ~ |
50mg/kg |
| ++ |
= |
51 ~ |
100mg/kg |
| +++ |
= |
101 ~ |
200mg/kg |
| ++++ |
= |
201 ~ |
500mg/kg |
| +++++ |
= |
501 ~ |
1000mg/kg |
| ++++++ |
= |
> |
1000mg/kg |
|
|
|
