by Babies and children up to the age of four could take a breath in sleep during sleep and other chemicals in their sleep, according to a Canadian study.
The federal regulations limit some phthalates or plasticizers in which products are added to make them more flexible.
Miriam Diamond, an environmental chemist at the University of Toronto, and her team designed an experiment to estimate how much of the connections from 16 different mattresses are released into the sleeping area of a child.
In the issue of the Journal Environmental Science & Technology on Tuesday, the researchers reported that two of the tested mattresses did not meet the Canadian regulations for two phthalates and two plasticers in consumer goods.
The regulations are based on potential damage to human health and the environment. For example, if babies are exposed to phthalates in the house dust, studies indicate that they are associated with a higher asthma risk.
Diamond said she was motivated to understand the effects of chemicals on children because babies sleep up to 18 hours a day.
“You are in close contact with your mattress in this sleeping environment,” said Diamond in an interview. “Children breathe ten times more air than adults, so there is the opportunity to be exposed to chemicals in the air, much more than adults.”
The study did not contain any brand names, but the researchers said that the mattresses were bought in leading retail stores for 50 to 105 US dollars in Canada.
Miriam Diamond cuts a sample of a mattress in the Toronto University Laboratory. (Kemeisha McDonald/University of Toronto)
Dimertion measures proposed
Diamond’s laboratory previously reported on how children can be exposed to phthalates and plasticizers by inhaling them, absorbing them through the skin, absorbing dust or putting their hands, clothing and toys in their mouths.
The researchers said that the chemicals found in mattresses are known to be associated with development and hormone disorders.
Diamond suggested that the parents often wash bed linen and pajamas because they are protective barriers of mattresses and reduce the number of objects on children’s beds such as toys.
The researchers also suggested that manufacturers improve the monitoring of their products so that they comply with regulations and their own product certificates. You should also improve the manufacturing practices in order to minimize unintentional contamination and only use such chemicals if necessary.
In particular, the researchers found that a mattress contained a high degree of tris (2 -chlorethyl) phosphate or TCEP, which has been banned in Canada in Canada since 2014 and is regarded as carcinogenic.
Chris Carlsten, a medical professor at the University of British Columbia, has examined how Phthalate can damage Human Airways.
“These are chemicals, of which we all rightly want to have these mattresses of children,” said Carlsten, who was not involved in the latest research.
He called the recommendation to “use” non -toxic bed linen and clothing, and added that this also applies to adults.
In view of their developing body, children are more susceptible, remarked Carlsten.
Health Canada did not immediately answer a request for comments. The regulatory authority has previously announced that it will monitor the market and pursue identified risks for the consumer product.
The financing of research was provided by a scholarship from the University of Toronto and the Graduate Scholarship from Ontario as well as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
