Are Sleeping Children Exposed to Plasticizers, Flame Retardants, and UV-Filters from Their Mattresses?

Our research found that children aged 1-4 years are being exposed to elevated levels of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in their sleeping microenvironment (SME). We detected 21 SVOCs in four classes (ortho-phthalates, organophosphate esters, benzophenones, and salicylates) in 16 new children's mattresses. One mattress exceeded the Canadian regulatory limit of 0.1% (by weight) for children's mattresses for di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), while five had >0.1% diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP), and diisononyl phthalate (DiNP), which are regulated in children's toys but not in mattresses. One mattress contained high levels of tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), which has been prohibited from use in Canada since 2014. Five mattresses had from 1 to 3% of several organophosphate esters. No consistent trend was found between the number or concentrations of SVOCs in mattress covers and their polymer type, e.g., rigid polyvinyl chloride vs flexible polypropylene-polyethylene, identified using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Twelve out of 45 SVOCs measured were emitted from eight mattresses tested at room temperature, rising to 20 detected at body temperature, and 21 were detected at body temperature and when body weight was applied. Given the likelihood of exposure, these results show the need for stricter regulations of all harmful chemicals in children's mattresses and improved oversight by manufacturers to minimize the use of harmful chemicals, especially when they are not needed.