The National bed Federation has issued to guidance on the use of chemicals in mattresses for babies and young children after academic studies raised concerns about the use of chemicals including phthalates and organophosphate ester flame retardants in products tested in Canada.
In response to information provided by Interiors Monthly, the association has today told members: ‘Requirements for the presence of phthalate plasticisers in articles are already included under both UK and EU REACH, and are a legislative requirement, so it is illegal to place a product on the market that does not comply with these requirements.
‘Under both EU and UK REACH, there are currently no legal restrictions for organophosphate esters in articles.
‘If you are producing mattresses for babies and very young children, you can work with your supply chain to ascertain the presence of organophosphate esters in raw materials as it is already possible to produce a specification for mattresses where organophosphate esters are not present in the article. In January, the Office for Product Safety and Standards announced changes that it would like to implement as soon as possible – which it will seek to pass through parliament as amended regulations. One of the immediate actions being taken to amend the 1988 Regulations will be: removing certain baby products from scope to address concerns about exposure to chemical flame retardants of young children, without compromising fire safety. The list of baby and children’s products proposed to be removed from scope of the FFRs includes: mattresses intended for use by babies and children, if the length is less than 170 cm and the width is less than 75 cm and modular mattresses intended for use by babies and children, if the largest component has a length of less than 170 cm and a width of less than 75 cm. The action to remove certain baby products from the scope of the regulations is welcomed as a positive approach. We look forward to receiving the notification when this change to legislation has been passed in parliament and enacted in law as amended regulations, which is anticipated to be towards the end of this year.’
The studies, by published overnight by the University of Toronto in Environmental Science & Technology and Environmental Science & Technology Letters, raised concerns that babies and young children may breathe and absorb plasticisers, flame retardants and other harmful chemicals from their mattresses while they sleep.
These chemicals are linked to neurological and reproductive problems, asthma, hormone disruption, and cancer,’ according to senior author Miriam Diamond, University of Toronto professor.
‘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,’ she says. ‘This is a wake-up call for manufacturers and policymakers to ensure our children’s beds are safe and support healthy brain development.’
The first study saw 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.’ In a companion study, researchers tested 16 newly purchased children’s mattresses and ‘confirmed that they are likely the major source of these chemicals in children’s sleeping environments. When the researchers simulated a child’s body temperature and weight on the mattresses, chemical emissions increased substantially, as much as by several times.’ The mattresses were purchased in Canada, but ‘most contained materials originating from other countries including the US and Mexico.’ Because of integrated mattress markets and supply chains, the results are likely to apply to mattresses purchased throughout North America.
‘The phthalates and organophosphate ester flame retardants measured in this study are hormone disruptors and linked to neurological harms, including learning disorders, reduced IQ scores, behavioural problems, and impaired memory. Some are also linked to childhood asthma and cancer. Several UV-filters are hormone disruptors. Children are uniquely vulnerable to exposure, given that they are still developing, have hand-to-mouth behaviours, and have breathing rates ten times higher than adults. They also have more permeable skin and three times the skin surface area relative to their body weight than adults,’ says the reports authors.
‘The high levels of flame retardants in most of the mattresses tested was puzzling, given these chemicals are not necessary to pass neither Canadian nor US mattress flammability standards. Flame retardants are linked to neurological, reproductive, and hormonal harm as well as cancer and also have no proven fire-safety benefit as used in mattresses.’
‘Parents should be able to lay their children down for sleep knowing they are safe and snug,’ says co-author Arlene Blum, Green Science Policy Institute executive director. ‘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.’
As well as calling for extending restrictions on certain plasticisers from toys and objects to be mouthed to include mattresses and other bedding items and passing long-proposed restrictions on two flame retardants, the authors recommend parents declutter a child’s sleeping area by reducing the number of pillows, blankets, and toys. They also recommend washing and refreshing the child’s bedding and bed clothing frequently since these act as a protective barrier to reduce exposure. They also say that undyed or neutral colour fabrics are likely safer since keeping strong colours requires the addition of UV-filters and other additives that may be harmful.
Both studies were conducted as part of lead author Sara Vaezafshar’s PhD dissertation at the University of Toronto and funded by the University of Toronto Fellowship, Ontario Graduate Scholarship, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
