Every parent wants their child to sleep safely and soundly. Yet, recent research led by the University of Toronto and co-authored by the Green Science Policy Institute has uncovered a disturbing reality: the very mattresses our babies and young children sleep on may be exposing them to a cocktail of harmful chemicals, including phthalates and flame retardants, night after night.
The first study detected concerning levels of more than two dozen phthalates, flame retardants, and UV-filters in the air of young children’s bedrooms, with the highest levels lurking around the beds. A companion study testing 16 newly purchased children’s mattresses 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 surged.
Why Are These Chemicals In Mattresses Concerning?
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, behavioral problems, and impaired memory. Some are also linked to childhood asthma and cancer. Several UV-filters are hormone disruptors.
Young children are not just “little adults.” Their developing bodies and brains, higher breathing rates, and hand-to-mouth behaviors make them especially susceptible to the harms of these chemicals. Babies can spend up to 18 hours a day sleeping, meaning their contact with mattresses is prolonged and intimate. Their skin is more permeable, and their surface area relative to body weight is three times that of adults, further increasing their risk. Critically, once a child’s brain development is disrupted, the consequences can be permanent and lifelong.
Why Are These Chemicals in Mattresses?
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 high levels of flame retardants in most of the mattresses tested were therefore puzzling, given these chemicals are not necessary to pass neither Canadian nor U.S. mattress flammability standards. Both countries’ updated regulations allow mattresses to pass safety tests without the use of added flame retardants. 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.
It was unclear whether the chemicals were intentionally added or present due to supply chain contamination. Several mattresses had chemicals that are banned or restricted in Canada, suggesting that manufacturers are not currently testing children’s mattresses for these chemicals and other unnecessary chemicals before putting them on the market.
What Can Parents Do?
While the burden should not fall on parents to ensure chemical safety of mattresses, there are immediate steps families can take to reduce exposure:
· Declutter the sleeping area: Limit the number of pillows, blankets, and toys, as these can also harbor or emit chemicals.
· Wash bedding frequently: Bedding and pajamas act as a barrier between your child and the mattress. Regular washing helps remove any chemicals that may accumulate.
· Opt for undyed or neutral-colored bedding: Brightly colored fabrics may require additional chemical additives, including UV-filters and plasticizers.
· Advocate for change: Write to manufacturers to demand transparency and safer products, and support policies that restrict harmful chemicals in children’s products.
What Can Policymakers And Mattress Companies Do?
The findings from these studies are a wake-up call for mattress manufacturers and policymakers. Perhaps the most important takeaway is that manufacturers must test their products for these substances and take other precautions to ensure clean supply chains before the products reach the market. For example, the UK’s mattress trade association reacted to the study by issuing guidance for its members. The group calls on manufacturers to work with their supply chains to ascertain the presence of certain chemicals in raw materials as it is already possible to produce a specification for mattresses where they are not present.
Governments must also prioritize children’s environmental health by implementing more stringent regulations on chemical use in mattresses and other children’s products, requiring transparency from manufacturers, and investing in research that further clarifies these connections between environmental exposures and health harms. Every child deserves the right to a safe sleep environment free from invisible chemical hazards that threaten their development, their potential, and ultimately their future.