Gerrard Kaonga
A new study is calling for significant changes to happen in an industry for the health of babies and young children due to serious dangers.
Two studies published by the University of Toronto in Environmental Science & Technology and Environmental Science & Technology Letters have recently made a concerning discovery.
Babies and children could be exposed to dangerous chemicals that could harm their mental and physical development.
Due to these very real dangers, the study also hopes to raise awareness to the importance of children being able to have safe areas within their bedrooms.
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According to the studies, children, on a regular basis, could be inhaling plasticizers called phthalates, flame retardants, and other harmful chemicals while they sleep.
These chemicals have been linked to neurological and reproductive problems, asthma, hormone disruption, and cancer.
The culprit, according to the study? The mattress that they are sleeping on.
Miriam Diamond, professor at the University of Toronto and senior author of the study said: “Sleep is vital for brain development, particularly for infants and toddlers. However, our research suggests that many mattresses contain chemicals that can harm kids' brains.
“This is a wake-up call for manufacturers and policymakers to ensure our children's beds are safe and support healthy brain development."
In the study researchers measured chemical concentrations in 25 bedrooms of children aged 6 months to 4 years.
They detected concerning levels of more than two dozen phthalates, flame retardants, and UV-filters in bedroom air, with the highest levels lurking around the beds.
To make matters even more concerning, when the researchers simulated a child's body temperature and weight on the mattresses, chemical emissions increased substantially.
The mattresses were purchased in Canada, but most contained materials originating from other countries, including the U.S. and Mexico. Because of integrated mattress markets and supply chains, the results are likely to apply to mattresses purchased throughout North America.
The co-author Arlene Blum, Executive Director of the Green Science Policy Institute, hoped that these findings would help force the hand of manufacturers to remove any and all unnecessary and potentially dangerous chemicals in mattresses.
He said: “Parents should be able to lay their children down for sleep knowing they are safe and snug.
“Flame retardants have a long history of harming our children's cognitive function and ability to learn. It's concerning that these chemicals are still being found in children's mattresses even though we know they have no proven fire-safety benefit, and aren't needed to comply with flammability standards."