The mattresses many infants and children sleep on could be giving off toxic chemicals harmful to their health, according to scientists at the University of Toronto.
Looking at a variety of lower-cost children’s mattresses, the authors of two related studies found that semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) were present in the sleep microenvironments (SMEs) of children. Often used in fire retardants or bedding softeners, SVOCs have been linked to “reproductive, neurological, hormonal, and other health harms,” the authors wrote.
The studies were led by Miriam Diamond, a professor in the University of Toronto’s department of earth sciences and school of the environment, and published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology on April 15….