Babies and little ones children They can breathe and absorb harmful chemicals from their mattresses while sleeping, according to two studies by the University of Toronto, published in the magazines “Environmental Science & Technology” and “Environmental Science & Technology Letters”. These chemicals are associated with neurological and reproductive problems, asthma, hormonal disorders and cancer.

“THE sleep It is vital to brain development, especially for infants and infants. However, our research suggests that many layers contain chemicals that can damage the brain of children, “says lead writer Miriam Diamond, a professor at the University of Toronto. “This is a loud message for manufacturers and policy makers to ensure that our children’s beds are safe and support healthy brain growth,” he adds.

In the first study, the researchers measured the concentrations of chemicals in 25 bedrooms of children aged six months to four years. They detected alarming levels of more than 24 phthalates, flame retardants and ultraviolet filters in the bed of bedrooms, with the highest levels around the beds.

In a accompanying study, the researchers examined 16 recently purchased children’s layers and confirmed that these are probably the main source of these chemicals in the children’s sleep environment. When the researchers simulated the body temperature and weight of a child on the layers, chemical emissions have increased significantly to many times. The studies studied were purchased in Canada, but most contained materials from other countries, including the US and Mexico. Researchers note that the results are likely to apply to mattresses purchased throughout North America.

The phthalates and flame retardants measured in this study are hormonal disorders and are associated with neurological damage, including learning difficulties, reduced IQ indicators, behavioral problems and reduced memory. Some are also associated with childish asthma and cancer. Also, several UV filters found are hormonal disturbers.

Children are particularly vulnerable to the exposure, as they continue to grow, they have behaviors that include contact with the mouth and have a breath rate ten times higher than adults. They also have more permeable skin and three times the skin surface than their body weight than adults.

It is noted that the high levels of retardant flames in most of the layers tested were enigmatic, as these chemicals are not necessary for the approval of either Canadian or American patterns. It is also noted that flame retardants are associated with neurological, reproductive and hormonal lesions as well as cancer, and also have no proven fire safety benefit as used in layers.

Researchers call on manufacturers to be more careful about chemicals in the children’s mattresses through tests. In addition, stricter regulations are required for the use of flame retardants and phthalates in the children’s layers. In Canada, the authors recommend expanding the restrictions that apply to some plasticizers for games and objects in the mouth to include layers and other types of bedding, as well as the approval of the long -term limitations in two flame retardations. Several layers contained chemicals that are prohibited or limited in Canada, indicating that manufacturers should control the children’s layers for these chemicals before they were on the market.

In the meantime, researchers point out that there are actions that parents can take to reduce their children’s exposure. The authors recommend removing unnecessary objects from the child’s sleeping area by reducing the number of pillows, blankets and toys. They also recommend the frequent washing and renewal of the child’s bed linen and sleeping clothes, as they act as a protective barrier to reduce exposure. Finally, they say that fabrics that are not painted or neutral are probably safer, as maintaining intense colors requires the addition of UV filters and other additives that may be harmful.

M. Kouzinopoulou

Photography Credit: University of Toronto