How in the fuck do these savages get away with this shit??
The FDA should be burned to the ground and its members arrested.
We are having our first baby in Feb, and I am trying to figure out what to do about a crib mattress:
1) I have a 2-plus-year-old mattress (loan from a friend)—is it still offgassing toxic chemicals?
2) If I buy new, will any of the solutions I've read about in various places contain the toxic offgassing (e.g. wrapping the mattress in polyethylene sheeting or surgical rubber sheeting to contain the gasses)? If I do this, will this sheeting also contain dust mite droppings and other allergens?
I realize buying an organic mattress is best, but it's a little hard on our budget.
The Green Guide Responds
It's natural to be concerned about your mattress's effect on your and your baby's health—you're on it a third of the day; he or she's on it even more. And as we explained in "That New Bed Smell," it's impossible to make a an absolutely correct mattress choice: polyurethane-based mattresses can off-gas toxic VOCs, including toluene; some people are allergic to latex, and its odor lingers; cotton can lose its loft; wool does not relieve pressure. Also, see our Mattress Product Report for more information about the health aspects of mattress purchases. Except in special cases, such as wool and by prescription, mattresses are required by law to contain chemical fire retardants, which can irritate your lungs or be even more harmful (polybrominated diphenyl ethers in particular), Cost is always an issue, especially for organic mattresses.
So what should you do if you have a foam or polyurethane mattress, or if you can't afford organic? And what's the best choice for your baby?
If you're an adult and you haven't experienced noticeable fumes or symptoms, you shouldn't be overly concerned. If you can't easily smell your mattress, it's likely not off-gassing, at least not much. The first days or weeks you own a foam mattress are when it's most likely to fume, in the greatest volume. You should air out a new foam mattress with a fan by an open window for a few hours, and not sleep on it for at least a few days. If it's still pungent, perhaps it's defective—very occasionally the chemical mixtures in foam mattresses don't take, and odors linger. In that case, call the manufacturer.
What if you have a few symptoms, not enough to throw out your mattress but enough to take notice? Lynn Marie Bower, of the Healthy House Institute and author of The Healthy Household and Creating a Healthy Household, recommends untreated, all-cotton barrier cloth to help seal in odors, though she cautions that off-gassing from foam mattresses and fire-retardants mean that natural mattresses are healthier: wool, for example, is naturally fire-retardant, so no chemical treatment is needed. Also, she noted, mattresses can keep off-gassing for months and even all-natural mattresses can have an odor, though not toxic. But as a partial remedy, she recommends the barrier cloths made by Janice Corporation (www.janices.com), which are also supposed to protect against dust mites—launder them regularly. When we called Janice Corp. to ask about the efficacy of its products, Dr. Myron Swack, the vice-president (and husband of Janice), cautioned that though their cloth has 300 threads per square inch, "it's still cloth" and "there's no shortcut"—fumes penetrate. Still, he thought it could help many sufferers.
We asked Swack about polyethylene and surgical rubber mattress covers. The problem with them, he said, is the mattress then can't breath, and bacteria and mold can grow. Two studies by Rosalind C. Anderson and Julius H. Anderson in Archives of Environmental Health have found that some polyurethane foam mattresses and PVC mattress covers, as well as standard spring mattresses, can release benzenes, styrene, and limonene (though not fire retardants or toluene); some crib mattress covers can release toluene, xylenes, benzenes, and phenol. Only organic cotton crib mattresses had no detectable toxic emissions.
Some holistic and alternative health groups claim that polyethylene mattress covers are good for babies, and in fact prevent SIDS. Howver, Dr. Betty McEntire, executive director of the American SIDS Institute, says that the only recommendation she can make is that the mattress be firm, with a tight-fitting sheet, and fits the crib. Also the baby should be placed in the bed on his back with nothing in the bed but the baby and the clothes he's wearing. "We have not taken a stand on other issues regarding mattresses such as reusing them, since the published medical literature has not shown a significant difference," she says. None of the data she's seen is good, well-controlled data, whether on polyethylene wrapping, mattress reusing, mattress material, or any other "quick fix for SIDS."
What to make of all this? Polyethylene covers are no doubt safer than those of PVC, and give dust mite protection, perhaps even better than does cloth (again, clean them regularly). You should carefully inspect your hand-me-down crib mattress to make sure it's clean and still firm; since it's old, it may have gotten much of its out-gassing out of its system. If it's dirty or too soft, it's advisable to buy a new one, as natural as fits your budget.
If buying a new mattress and willing to pay more, below are some sources for organic cotton and wool baby mattresses, cribs, and bedding Green Guide recommends:
Obasan 888-413-4442
Natural Home Products 707-824-0914
Tomorrowsworld 800-229-7571
Carcinogenic Cribs and Changing Tables?
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Posted by Jennifer Taggart
Environment California has documented high levels of formaldehyde emissions from baby furniture commonly found in the nursery. Environment California’s report shows that cribs and changing tables can emit high levels of formaldehyde. When these sources are added to other sources likely to be found in the home, the levels may exceed those shown to have adverse health effects on children.
Formaldehyde in cribs and changing tables shouldn’t be a surprise. It is common for composite wood products – like particle board and medium density fiberboard (MDF) – are held together with formaldehyde based resins. Unfortunately, the formaldehyde escapes from these products, polluting indoor air. And formaldehyde can be released for many years. But, you might not have thought that a crib or changing table could contribute significantly to formaldehyde emissions in the home. Unfortunately, Environment California’s testing shows that cribs and changing tables can be significant sources. And when you consider that your baby spends a lot of time in that nursery, you might want to look for alternatives. A bit of good news? The California Air Resources Board has enacted a regulation that will start to limit formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products beginning in 2009.
Why is formaldehyde emitted from baby furniture? Wood has naturally occurring formaldehyde. But, more formaldehyde is added to composite wood products to hold together the wood particles. And baby cribs and baby changing tables, along with other similar furniture and cabinets, are typically made of these products. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) reports that formaldehyde off gasses (or escapes) from these products, often for many years. Formaldehyde is released from unreacted formaldehyde present in the resin and as a result of chemical degradation over time. And, unfortunately, porous materials and furnishings, such as upholstered furniture, carpets, walls, and window coverings, can absorb formaldehyde and then re-emit it later. Basically, they act as formaldehyde sinks. So that comfy nursing chair may be absorbing formaldehyde, and the can re-emit it later.
Why do we care about exposure to formaldehyde? Unlike bisphenol A (BPA) in polycarbonate plastic, there isn't much debate about the health effects associated with exposure to formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a carcinogen. Chronic exposure to formaldehyde is linked to an increased risk for developing allergy sensitization and/or asthma. Several studies have documented that children exposed to elevated levels of formaldehyde are at high risk of developing asthma and other respiratory diseases.
What did Environment California do? It took baby furniture purchased from major retailers such as Target and put the furniture in an enclosed environmental chamber. An independent laboratory measured the formaldehyde emissions from each piece of furniture. Then, the emission rate from the furniture was extrapolated to determine how much the products contributed to the indoor air concentrations of formaldehyde in a typical house.
The results? Of the products tested, the highest emitter, the Child-Craft Oak Crib (purchased at Target), would result in an indoor air concentration of formaldehyde at 20 ppb if it was the only source in the house. Since an elevated risk of asthma has been found in children exposed to indoor air concentrations of formaldehyde at 50 ppb, this is significant. Most homes have many formaldehyde sources, from cabinets to other furniture. Other high formaldehyde emitters were the Bridget 4 in 1 Crib by Delta (Wal Mart), Kayla II Changing Table by Storkcraft (Babies R Us), Berkely Changing Table by Jardine Enterprises (Babies R Us), Country Style Changing Table by South Shore Furniture (Target) and Rochester Cognac Crib by Storkcraft (Target).
So what can you do?
Try these Smart Mama Simple Steps:
* Skip composite wood products.
* Go for non-toxic finishes. If you are buying wood furniture, make sure the coating is non-toxic. Look for natural finishes made with plant oils (although this includes d-limonene), tree resins, minerals and beeswax, or low or no-VOC finishes.
* Just say no to formaldehyde. If you are buying furniture made with manufactured wood products, look for formaldehyde free products. Avoid bare, uncoated urea-formaldehyde pressed wood products that can emit relatively high amounts of formaldehyde.
* Let it off-gas outside. Buying green can be expensive, and sometimes difficult to find. If you can’t find formaldehyde-free particleboard, then let the furniture off gas outside of the nursery, and preferably the home, before bringing the furniture inside. Make sure that the area has fresh air passing by so the formaldehyde will be removed.
* Control climate. The amount of formaldehyde released is increased with increasing temperature and humidity. Keep the humidity and temperature low, and you can reduce the amount of formaldehyde released.
* Seal bare urea-formaldehyde wood products with multiples layers of water resistant sealants. Research indicates that sealing bare urea-formaldehyde wood products can reduce formaldehyde emissions for months to years after application. Seal all unfinished edges of finished furniture. Of course, the sealants themselves may release other VOCs, so check labels carefully. Use a no or low VOC sealant.
* Ventilate. Since babies spend 90% of their time indoors, make sure to keep the home well ventilated. Opening windows and using fans to move and circulate the air will lower formaldehyde levels inside.
* Go green (literally). Some plants have shown an ability to remove pollutants from the air based upon a study by NASA to maintain air quality in confined spaces. Plants shown to remove formaldehyde are those with large leaf surface areas, including Azalea Aloe Vera, Bamboo Palm, Boston ferns, Corn Plant, Chinese evergreen, Chrysanthemum, Date Palm, Dieffenbachia, Golden Pothos, Mini-Schefflera, Peace lily, Peperomia, Mother-in-law's tongue, Philodendron (Heart-leaf, Lacy tree, or Elephant ear), Poinsettia, Snake Plant, and Spider Plant. But, I would consider avoiding those plaints considered poisonous to infants. Also, indoor plants can be problematic. Mold can grow in potted soils and release spores into the air. Houseplants add moisture, thereby fostering the growth of mold and dust mites. No study confirms that houseplants remove significant quantities of pollutants in the home environment, but they may help remove some.
The FDA should be burned to the ground and its members arrested. We are having our first baby in Feb, and I am trying to figure out what to do about a crib mattress:
1) I have a 2-plus-year-old mattress (loan from a friend)—is it still offgassing toxic chemicals?
2) If I buy new, will any of the solutions I've read about in various places contain the toxic offgassing (e.g. wrapping the mattress in polyethylene sheeting or surgical rubber sheeting to contain the gasses)? If I do this, will this sheeting also contain dust mite droppings and other allergens?
I realize buying an organic mattress is best, but it's a little hard on our budget.
The Green Guide Responds
It's natural to be concerned about your mattress's effect on your and your baby's health—you're on it a third of the day; he or she's on it even more. And as we explained in "That New Bed Smell," it's impossible to make a an absolutely correct mattress choice: polyurethane-based mattresses can off-gas toxic VOCs, including toluene; some people are allergic to latex, and its odor lingers; cotton can lose its loft; wool does not relieve pressure. Also, see our Mattress Product Report for more information about the health aspects of mattress purchases. Except in special cases, such as wool and by prescription, mattresses are required by law to contain chemical fire retardants, which can irritate your lungs or be even more harmful (polybrominated diphenyl ethers in particular), Cost is always an issue, especially for organic mattresses.
So what should you do if you have a foam or polyurethane mattress, or if you can't afford organic? And what's the best choice for your baby?
If you're an adult and you haven't experienced noticeable fumes or symptoms, you shouldn't be overly concerned. If you can't easily smell your mattress, it's likely not off-gassing, at least not much. The first days or weeks you own a foam mattress are when it's most likely to fume, in the greatest volume. You should air out a new foam mattress with a fan by an open window for a few hours, and not sleep on it for at least a few days. If it's still pungent, perhaps it's defective—very occasionally the chemical mixtures in foam mattresses don't take, and odors linger. In that case, call the manufacturer.
What if you have a few symptoms, not enough to throw out your mattress but enough to take notice? Lynn Marie Bower, of the Healthy House Institute and author of The Healthy Household and Creating a Healthy Household, recommends untreated, all-cotton barrier cloth to help seal in odors, though she cautions that off-gassing from foam mattresses and fire-retardants mean that natural mattresses are healthier: wool, for example, is naturally fire-retardant, so no chemical treatment is needed. Also, she noted, mattresses can keep off-gassing for months and even all-natural mattresses can have an odor, though not toxic. But as a partial remedy, she recommends the barrier cloths made by Janice Corporation (www.janices.com), which are also supposed to protect against dust mites—launder them regularly. When we called Janice Corp. to ask about the efficacy of its products, Dr. Myron Swack, the vice-president (and husband of Janice), cautioned that though their cloth has 300 threads per square inch, "it's still cloth" and "there's no shortcut"—fumes penetrate. Still, he thought it could help many sufferers.
We asked Swack about polyethylene and surgical rubber mattress covers. The problem with them, he said, is the mattress then can't breath, and bacteria and mold can grow. Two studies by Rosalind C. Anderson and Julius H. Anderson in Archives of Environmental Health have found that some polyurethane foam mattresses and PVC mattress covers, as well as standard spring mattresses, can release benzenes, styrene, and limonene (though not fire retardants or toluene); some crib mattress covers can release toluene, xylenes, benzenes, and phenol. Only organic cotton crib mattresses had no detectable toxic emissions.
Some holistic and alternative health groups claim that polyethylene mattress covers are good for babies, and in fact prevent SIDS. Howver, Dr. Betty McEntire, executive director of the American SIDS Institute, says that the only recommendation she can make is that the mattress be firm, with a tight-fitting sheet, and fits the crib. Also the baby should be placed in the bed on his back with nothing in the bed but the baby and the clothes he's wearing. "We have not taken a stand on other issues regarding mattresses such as reusing them, since the published medical literature has not shown a significant difference," she says. None of the data she's seen is good, well-controlled data, whether on polyethylene wrapping, mattress reusing, mattress material, or any other "quick fix for SIDS."
What to make of all this? Polyethylene covers are no doubt safer than those of PVC, and give dust mite protection, perhaps even better than does cloth (again, clean them regularly). You should carefully inspect your hand-me-down crib mattress to make sure it's clean and still firm; since it's old, it may have gotten much of its out-gassing out of its system. If it's dirty or too soft, it's advisable to buy a new one, as natural as fits your budget.
If buying a new mattress and willing to pay more, below are some sources for organic cotton and wool baby mattresses, cribs, and bedding Green Guide recommends:
Obasan 888-413-4442
Natural Home Products 707-824-0914
Tomorrowsworld 800-229-7571
Carcinogenic Cribs and Changing Tables?
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Posted by Jennifer Taggart
Environment California has documented high levels of formaldehyde emissions from baby furniture commonly found in the nursery. Environment California’s report shows that cribs and changing tables can emit high levels of formaldehyde. When these sources are added to other sources likely to be found in the home, the levels may exceed those shown to have adverse health effects on children.
Formaldehyde in cribs and changing tables shouldn’t be a surprise. It is common for composite wood products – like particle board and medium density fiberboard (MDF) – are held together with formaldehyde based resins. Unfortunately, the formaldehyde escapes from these products, polluting indoor air. And formaldehyde can be released for many years. But, you might not have thought that a crib or changing table could contribute significantly to formaldehyde emissions in the home. Unfortunately, Environment California’s testing shows that cribs and changing tables can be significant sources. And when you consider that your baby spends a lot of time in that nursery, you might want to look for alternatives. A bit of good news? The California Air Resources Board has enacted a regulation that will start to limit formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products beginning in 2009.
Why is formaldehyde emitted from baby furniture? Wood has naturally occurring formaldehyde. But, more formaldehyde is added to composite wood products to hold together the wood particles. And baby cribs and baby changing tables, along with other similar furniture and cabinets, are typically made of these products. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) reports that formaldehyde off gasses (or escapes) from these products, often for many years. Formaldehyde is released from unreacted formaldehyde present in the resin and as a result of chemical degradation over time. And, unfortunately, porous materials and furnishings, such as upholstered furniture, carpets, walls, and window coverings, can absorb formaldehyde and then re-emit it later. Basically, they act as formaldehyde sinks. So that comfy nursing chair may be absorbing formaldehyde, and the can re-emit it later.
Why do we care about exposure to formaldehyde? Unlike bisphenol A (BPA) in polycarbonate plastic, there isn't much debate about the health effects associated with exposure to formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a carcinogen. Chronic exposure to formaldehyde is linked to an increased risk for developing allergy sensitization and/or asthma. Several studies have documented that children exposed to elevated levels of formaldehyde are at high risk of developing asthma and other respiratory diseases.
What did Environment California do? It took baby furniture purchased from major retailers such as Target and put the furniture in an enclosed environmental chamber. An independent laboratory measured the formaldehyde emissions from each piece of furniture. Then, the emission rate from the furniture was extrapolated to determine how much the products contributed to the indoor air concentrations of formaldehyde in a typical house.
The results? Of the products tested, the highest emitter, the Child-Craft Oak Crib (purchased at Target), would result in an indoor air concentration of formaldehyde at 20 ppb if it was the only source in the house. Since an elevated risk of asthma has been found in children exposed to indoor air concentrations of formaldehyde at 50 ppb, this is significant. Most homes have many formaldehyde sources, from cabinets to other furniture. Other high formaldehyde emitters were the Bridget 4 in 1 Crib by Delta (Wal Mart), Kayla II Changing Table by Storkcraft (Babies R Us), Berkely Changing Table by Jardine Enterprises (Babies R Us), Country Style Changing Table by South Shore Furniture (Target) and Rochester Cognac Crib by Storkcraft (Target).
So what can you do?
Try these Smart Mama Simple Steps:
* Skip composite wood products.
* Go for non-toxic finishes. If you are buying wood furniture, make sure the coating is non-toxic. Look for natural finishes made with plant oils (although this includes d-limonene), tree resins, minerals and beeswax, or low or no-VOC finishes.
* Just say no to formaldehyde. If you are buying furniture made with manufactured wood products, look for formaldehyde free products. Avoid bare, uncoated urea-formaldehyde pressed wood products that can emit relatively high amounts of formaldehyde.
* Let it off-gas outside. Buying green can be expensive, and sometimes difficult to find. If you can’t find formaldehyde-free particleboard, then let the furniture off gas outside of the nursery, and preferably the home, before bringing the furniture inside. Make sure that the area has fresh air passing by so the formaldehyde will be removed.
* Control climate. The amount of formaldehyde released is increased with increasing temperature and humidity. Keep the humidity and temperature low, and you can reduce the amount of formaldehyde released.
* Seal bare urea-formaldehyde wood products with multiples layers of water resistant sealants. Research indicates that sealing bare urea-formaldehyde wood products can reduce formaldehyde emissions for months to years after application. Seal all unfinished edges of finished furniture. Of course, the sealants themselves may release other VOCs, so check labels carefully. Use a no or low VOC sealant.
* Ventilate. Since babies spend 90% of their time indoors, make sure to keep the home well ventilated. Opening windows and using fans to move and circulate the air will lower formaldehyde levels inside.
* Go green (literally). Some plants have shown an ability to remove pollutants from the air based upon a study by NASA to maintain air quality in confined spaces. Plants shown to remove formaldehyde are those with large leaf surface areas, including Azalea Aloe Vera, Bamboo Palm, Boston ferns, Corn Plant, Chinese evergreen, Chrysanthemum, Date Palm, Dieffenbachia, Golden Pothos, Mini-Schefflera, Peace lily, Peperomia, Mother-in-law's tongue, Philodendron (Heart-leaf, Lacy tree, or Elephant ear), Poinsettia, Snake Plant, and Spider Plant. But, I would consider avoiding those plaints considered poisonous to infants. Also, indoor plants can be problematic. Mold can grow in potted soils and release spores into the air. Houseplants add moisture, thereby fostering the growth of mold and dust mites. No study confirms that houseplants remove significant quantities of pollutants in the home environment, but they may help remove some.
