Publication of the
toxic gas theory:
- The toxic gas
theory for cot death (SIDS, crib death) was
published by British scientist Barry Richardson
in 1994: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: a
possible primary cause, Journal of the
Forensic Science Society 1994;34(3):199-204
Publication of proof of the
gas generation involved:
The fungal generation of extremely toxic nerve gases
from compounds of phosphorus, arsenic and antimony
has been demonstrated many times over the last
century. Recent confirmations are:
- Toxic gas
generation from plastic mattresses and sudden
infant death syndrome, Lancet
1995;346:1516-20
- Confirmation of
the Biomethylation of Antimony Compounds,
Applied Organometallic Chemistry 1997; Vol.
11, 471-483
Publication of proof of the presence of
fungal growth in babies' mattresses:
- Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome: a possible primary cause,
Journal of the Forensic Science Society
1994;34(3):199-204
- Final Report of
the Expert Group to Investigate Cot Death
Theories: Toxic Gas Hypothesis (Limerick
Report), May 1998
Publication of proof of the presence of the
elements phosphorus, arsenic and antimony in babies'
bedding:
- Analyses of
bedding reported by Jim Sprott in The Cot
Death Cover-up? (Penguin Books, New Zealand
1996, Britain 1997).
To view these
results of analyses, click on the
sidebar heading
Bedding analyses.
Publication of proof of the generation of
highly toxic gases from compounds of phosphorus,
arsenic and antimony in babies' mattresses and other
bedding:
- Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome: a possible primary cause,
Journal of the Forensic Science Society
1994;34(3):199-204
- The evolution
of phosphine from cot mattress materials, M G
Fitzpatrick, Department of Chemistry, University
of Auckland (Final Report, December 1997)
- Arsenic
methylation by micro-organisms isolated from
sheepskin bedding materials, Human &
Experimental Toxicology (2003) 22:325-334
Publication of proof
that the re-use of mattresses increases the risk of
cot death (a corollary of the toxic gas theory):
- Case-control
study of sudden infant death syndrome in
Scotland, 1992-5, British Medical Journal
1997;314:1516-20
- Used infant
mattresses and sudden infant death syndrome in
Scotland: case-control study, British
Medical Journal 2002;325:1007-1009
Proof that the risk of cot death rises from
first to second babies in families; and from second
to third babies; and from third to fourth and later
babies; and that babies of solo parents are at
higher risk again (a corollary of the fact that
re-use of mattresses increases the risk of cot
death):
- Analysis of
official British cot death statistics (Source:
Office of National Statistics, United Kingdom)
The finding of the rising risk of cot death from
one sibling to the next refutes every
proposition that cot death has a medical cause.
The more times an unwrapped mattress is used
from one baby to the next, the greater is the
risk of cot death.
This accounts for the higher cot death rate
among poorer families, who are more likely to
sleep their babies on previously used
mattresses.
If a mattress contains any of the elements
phosphorus, arsenic or antimony, and if certain
household fungi have become established in the
mattress during prior use, any generation of
toxic gas commences sooner and in greater
volume.
Publication of proof that
later babies in a family are more at risk of cot
death than first babies (a corollary of the fact
that re-use of mattresses increases the risk of cot
death):
- Risk factors of
sudden infant death in Chinese babies,
American Journal of Epidemiology
1997;144:1070-73
Publication of proof that face-up sleeping
reduces the risk of cot death:
- All studies
which show that face-up sleeping reduces the
risk of cot death (of which there are many)
support the toxic gas theory. Face-up sleeping
reduces the risk because the gases concerned are
more dense than air; they diffuse away from a
baby's mattress towards the floor, so a baby
sleeping face-up is less likely to ingest them.
Publication of proof that cot death babies
show physiological effects of gaseous poisoning:
- Decreased
Kainate Receptor Binding in the Arcuate Nucleus
of the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Journal
of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology
1997;56:1253-61
- Synaptic
Neurochemistry of Human Striatum During
Development: Changes in Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome, Journal of Neurochemistry
1993;60(6):2098-2105
Publication of proof that the cot death risk
varies with mattress type:
- New Zealand Cot
Death Study (1987-1990)
Publication of proof that the cot death risk
in Britain is less on PVC-covered mattresses:
- CESDI study
(Britain), reported in Lancet
1995;345:720
Any part of a baby's mattress which contains the
chemicals phosphorus, arsenic and/or antimony is
capable of the gas generation which causes cot
death.
If, therefore, a mattress is covered with a
gas-impermeable diaphragm which does not contain
those chemicals, the risk of cot death is
eliminated.
Accordingly, following removal of those
chemicals from British plastic-covered
mattresses from 1989 onwards, the risk of cot
death in Britain is less on PVC-covered
mattresses (which are very frequently used in
Britain).
Thus the finding by the CESDI study that babies
are less at risk on PVC-covered mattresses
supports the toxic gas theory for cot death.
Book regarding the toxic gas theory for cot
death:
- Jim Sprott,
The Cot Death Cover-up? (Penguin Books, New
Zealand 1996, Britain 1997).
Publication of statistical results of the
New Zealand mattress-wrapping campaign:
- Giftige Gase im
Kinderbett (Toxic Gases in Infants' Beds),
Zeitschrift fuer Umweltmedizin (Journal of
Environmental Medicine) 2002; 44:18-22.
For a summary of the statistical results, click
on the sidebar heading
Statistics.
- Cot Death -
Cause and Prevention: Experiences in New Zealand
1995-2004, Journal of Nutritional &
Environmental Medicine 2004; 14(3):221-232
|
