Infant Exposure to Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds from Crib Mattresses

Abstract

Infants spend most of their time sleeping and are likely to be exposed to elevated concentrations of chemicals released from their crib mattresses. Small-scale chamber experiments were conducted to determine the area-specific emission rates (SERs) of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a collection of twenty new and used crib mattresses. All mattress samples were found to emit VOCs and the mean values of total VOC (TVOC) SERs were 56 μg/m(2)h at 23 °C and 139 μg/m(2)h at 36 °C. TVOC SERs were greater for new mattresses compared to used ones and were influenced by the type of foam material and the presence of mattress cover layer. A variety of VOCs were identified, with polyurethane foam releasing a greater diversity of VOCs compared to polyester foam. Large-scale chamber experiments were conducted with an infant thermal manikin. TVOC concentrations sampled in the breathing zone and interior pore air of the crib mattress foam were found to be greater than the bulk room air by factors in the range of 1.8 to 2.4 and 7.5 to 21, respectively. The results suggest that crib mattresses are an important source of VOCs and infant exposure to VOCs are possibly elevated in their sleep microenvironments.

Emission of Phthalates and Phthalate Alternatives from Vinyl Flooring and Crib Mattress Covers: The Influence of Temperature

“…Phthalate plasticizers and their alternatives were found in crib mattress covers. 32,33 To make a screening-level estimate of phthalate concentrations around an infant, the SVOC emission model (eqs 1−5) was extended to a two-zone model. As shown in Figure 3, the breathing zone (BZ) consists of the air space surrounding a sleeping infant, G with a bottom cross-sectional area that covers the mattress.…”

“…The background level of target compounds in the blank was less than 0.2% of the content of the samples. Table S3 shows that most of the 16 samples of vinyl flooring contained more than 10% phthalates in the material, and DINP was the dominant 33 Among these samples, four flooring products and two mattress covers were selected for emission measurements in the test chamber, and their material-phase concentrations are listed in Table 1. The observed variation may be due to some inhomogeneity of phthalate distribution in material samples.…”

Characterizing particle resuspension from mattresses: chamber study

“…The seemingly innocuous sleep microenvironment can be home to a diversity of chemical pollutants and biological agents, some of which can impact human health. Mattresses are possible sources of a myriad of chemical species, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), plasticizers, flame retardants, and unreacted isocyanates (Boor et al., ; Stapleton et al., ). Furthermore, mattresses, pillows, and bedding serve as an accumulation zone for a diverse spectrum of particles, many of which are of biological origin.…”

Developmental neurotoxicity and autism: A potential link between indoor neuroactive pollutants and the curious birth order risk factor

“…In addition to the expected brominated and chlorinated flame retardants, they found PentaBDE (thought to have been phased out in 2004 over safety concerns), chlorinated organophosphates, and unidentifiable compounds contained in proprietary mixtures. Similar studies cataloged 14 crib mattress volatiles and semi‐volatiles (especially phenols and aromatic compounds; Boor et al, 2014) as well as isocyanate, phthalates, and BFRs (Boor et al, 2015). Polyurethane foams used in infant products like cushions, bumpers and mattresses contain up to 30% BFRs by weight (Birnbaum and Staskal, 2004).…”