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The Guardian
21-04-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
New research finds alarming levels of toxic chemicals in children's mattresses
Alarming levels of highly toxic phthalates, flame retardants and UV filters in the air in small children's bedrooms likely stems from kids' mattresses off-gassing the chemicals, new research suggests. The peer-reviewed study measured air in the rooms of children under four years old, and the highest volumes were detected around the kids' beds. An accompanying study checked for the same chemicals in 16 common kids mattress brands, and found them at concerning levels in each. The chemicals are semi-volatile, meaning they can lift off objects and seep into the air over time, and a simulation then found the warmth and weight of a sleeping child could increase the off-gassing. The chemicals can then be inhaled, absorbed by the skin, or attach to dust and be ingested. Researchers were 'very surprised' by the chemical levels, said Miriam Diamond, a study co-author and environmental chemist at the University of Toronto. One mattress's weight was 3% flame retardant. 'We were really shocked to find what was in the mattresses,' Diamond said. 'The kids are getting quite a dose of this stuff.' The study was done in partnership with the Green Science Policy Institute in California. Phthalates and flame retardants are classes of chemicals with compounds linked to serious health issues like cancer, reproductive harm, genital malformation, neurological damage, hormonal disruption and early puberty. Exposure to some types of flame retardants is strongly linked to lower IQs in children. Phthalates are typically used as plasticizers that help materials bend, and are added to plastic mattress covers, but they were also detected in non-plastic covers, which surprised the authors, Diamond said. Some types of phthalates are restricted for use in children's products in the US because of their high toxicity, and the levels in four mattresses exceeded those. No limits exist for other concerning phthalate compounds. UV filters are added to textiles to prevent dyes from deteriorating, and research has increasingly raised concerns about potential health effects. Mattresses need to meet flammability standards to prevent fires from spreading, so most companies use flame retardants. However, public health advocates and even some firefighting organizations say flame retardants are largely ineffective and do more harm than good because of their toxicity both to people exposed to them in products, and firefighters who encounter them in smoke. No federal limits for flame retardant levels in mattresses exist in the US or Canada, but several types of flame retardants that are outright banned in one of the countries, or restricted from use in kids' products, were found in the mattresses. TCEP, for example, constituted 1% of the weight of one mattress. Sign up to Detox Your Kitchen A seven-week expert course to help you avoid chemicals in your food and groceries. after newsletter promotion Researchers didn't name the mattress companies but said the products were among common brands sold in the US and Canada for under $150. The mattresses contained materials from unknown countries in addition to China, Turkey and Mexico, so the country of production is unlikely to make a difference, Diamond said. For those seeking to take some steps to protect themselves, look for mattresses that don't have flame retardants, or use an alternative, like wool – though those mattresses are typically more expensive. Mattresses made of natural materials such as cotton or latex are less likely to have phthalates, though it's not a guarantee. Setting mattresses outside to off-gas after purchase can help get rid of some chemicals, but not all, as phthalates and flame retardants could take years to seep away. Diamond said adding a protective barrier like a terry cloth towel that's good at absorbing chemicals can be helpful. But ultimately, 'the onus is on the mattress manufacturers' to stop using toxic chemicals, Diamond said. 'The mattress manufacturers need to be more vigilant,' she added.
The Guardian
12-02-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Eating from plastic takeout containers can increase heart failure risk
Eating from plastic takeout containers may significantly increase the chance of congestive heart failure, a new study finds, and researchers suspect they have identified why: changes to gut biome cause inflammation that damages the circulatory system. The novel two part, peer-reviewed study from Chinese researchers adds to mounting evidence of the risks associated with eating from plastic, and builds on previous evidence linking plastic chemicals to heart disease. The authors used a two-part approach, first looking into the frequency with which over 3,000 people in China ate from plastic takeout containers, and whether they had heart disease. They then exposed rats to plastic chemicals in water that was boiled and poured in carryout containers to extract chemicals. 'The data revealed that high-frequency exposure to plastics is significantly associated with an increased risk of congestive heart failure,' the authors wrote. Plastic can contain any of about 20,000 chemicals, and many of them, such as BPA, phthalates and Pfas, present health risks. The chemicals are often found in food and food packaging, and are linked to a range of problems from cancer to reproductive harm. While researchers in the new paper didn't check which specific chemicals were leaching from the plastic, they noted the link between common plastic compounds and heart disease, and a previous link between gut biome and heart disease. They put boiling water in the containers for one, five or 15 minutes because plastic chemicals leach at much higher rates when hot contents are placed in containers – the study cited previous research that found as many as 4.2m microplastic particles per sq cm can leach from plastic containers that are microwaved. The authors then gave rats the water contaminated with leachate to drink for several months, then analyzed the gut biome and metabolites in the feces. It found notable changes. 'It indicated that ingestion of these leachates altered the intestinal microenvironment, affected gut microbiota composition, and modified gut microbiota metabolites, particularly those linked to inflammation and oxidative stress,' the authors wrote. Sign up to Detox Your Kitchen A seven-week expert course to help you avoid chemicals in your food and groceries. after newsletter promotion They then checked the rats' heart muscle tissue and found it had been damaged. The study did not find a statistical difference in the changes and damage among rats that were exposed to water that had been in contact with plastic for one minute versus five or fifteen. The study does not make recommendations on how consumers can protect themselves. But public health advocates say to avoid microwaving or adding hot food to plastic containers at home, or cooking anything in plastic. Replacing plastic utensils or packaging at home with glass, wood or stainless steel alternatives is also helpful. It is more difficult to avoid plastic when getting carryout. One can bring their own glass packaging or transfer food to glass packaging when one gets home.
