ARE PHTHALATE CHEMICALS IN CRIB MATTRESSES CAUSING MALE HORMONAL AND FERTILITY ISSUES IN YOUR BABY BOY?
What Every Parent Must Know
by: Barry A. Cik, PE, CP, BCEE, QEP, REM, CHMM
Chief Engineer, G.E.M. Testing & Engineering Labs
© 2004, 2006 G.E.M. Testing & Engineering Labs
What's the Problem?
Phthalate chemicals are conclusively harmful.
Phthalate chemicals can be found within one inch of your baby ten or more hours every day.
In the past few years, there have been an increasing number of reports linking phthalates to male reproductive damage, plus asthma, allergies, malformations, liver damage, and more. Just 30 or 40 years ago, for example, these types of chronic conditions used to occur in one in 5,000 children. Today, babies are being attacked at unprecedented rates. As examples, asthma is striking one in every 20 children. Among other concerns, male hormonal issues are skyrocketing. Why?
Background
- What are phthalates?
Phthalates (pronounced “thalates”) are endocrine disruptive chemicals used in vinyl.
- What is vinyl?
“Vinyl” is short for polyvinyl chloride or PVC, with the addition of phthalates to make it soft and flexible. Vinyl/PVC is one of the most unfriendly plastics for the environment. It cannot be recycled without releasing carcinogenic dioxins into the environment. There are some other variations of vinyl (such as polyvinylidene chloride or PVCD), but in general, vinyl refers to PVC with phthalates.
- But isn’t vinyl a soft plastic and PVC a hard plastic?
When phthalate chemicals are added to PVC, it makes the plastic soft and flexible (usually called vinyl). When phthalates are not added to the mix, the plastic is hard and firm (usually called PVC).
- How much “phthalates” are usually in vinyl?
Phthalates can be only a small percentage of the vinyl, or as high as 50% by weight. Typically, however, about 30% by weight of vinyl is phthalates.
- Once in vinyl, do the phthalates stay contained?
No. As we will see, phthalates leach out of vinyl over time. Old vinyl cracks and becomes brittle because the phthaltes have all leached out. Putting aside the environmental implications of vinyl, our primary concern is that these phthalates slowly get into the bodies of our children. This is evidenced by increased phthalate levels found in breast milk and household dust samples.
Warnings from Government and Medical Sources
There are a number of varieties of phthalates. Some studies relate to phthalates in general. Others focus on the most prevalent phthalate, known as DEHP (diethyl hexyl phthalate).
In 1997, a study published in the International Journal of Cancer indicated:
“The chemical composition of PVC includes two features. First, PVC is the only plastic that contains chlorine... Second, plasticizers, i.e., additives, are used in PVC, mostly diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP), from 0 to almost 50% of the weight... In conclusion, in our case-control study of testicular cancer, a somewhat surprisingly high risk was observed for exposure to PVC plastics.”
(Hardell, Lennart, et al. “Occupational Exposure to Polyvinyl Chloride as a Risk Factor for Testicular Cancer Evaluated
in a Case-Control Study.” International Journal of Cancer. 73, 828-830 1997. www.mindfully.org/Pesticide/Occupational-Exposure-PVC.htm See also National Library of Medicine)
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In October 2000, a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that:
“...phthalates are ubiquitous industrial chemicals with a wide range of chemical and toxicologic characteristics... rodent liver carcinogen... teratogenic in animals... toxic to the testes... Sertoli cell toxicants...”
(“Levels of Seven Urinary Phthalate Metabolites in a Human Reference Population.” Benjamin C. Blount, et al., National Center for Environmental Health (CDC), Environmental Health Perspectives, Volume 108 No. 10, Oct 2000, Pg. 979) |
In January 2001, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Public Health Service, National Toxicology Program) classified DEHP phthalates as:
In July 2002, the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) issued a Public Health Notification regarding the use of DEHP, the most widely used phthalate, in medical products.
“Exposure to DEHP has produced a range of adverse effects in laboratory animals, but of greatest concern are effects on the development of the male reproductive system ... precautions should be taken to limit the exposure of the developing male to DEHP [phthalates].”
(“FDA Public Health Notification.” David W. Feigal, Jr. MD, MPH, Director Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, July 12, 2002, www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/dehp.html See also Chemical Week Magazine, September 12, 2001, pg.13 and July 24, 2002, pg.35.)
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In June 2003, an American Academy of Pediatrics Technical Report found that:
“Phthalates are animal carcinogens and can cause fetal death, malformations, and reproductive toxicity in laboratory animals... children may be at higher risk of adverse effects of phthalates because of anticipated higher exposures during a time of developmental and physiologic immaturity...”
(Shea, Katherine M. MD MPH and the Committee on Environmental Health. “Pediatric Exposure and Potential Toxicity
of Phthalate Plasticizers.” American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatrics Volume 111 No. 6. June 2003. Pg. 1467. http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;111/6/1467) |
In October 2004, a study by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found that:
“Although DEHP plasticizes numerous products, roughly 95% of the current production is used in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (National Toxicology Program 2003), where it typically constitutes 30% of PVC by weight... The incidence of asthma and allergy has increased throughout the developed world over the past 30 years... The short interval over which it has occurred implies that the increase is caused by changes in environmental exposures rather than genetic changes... di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was associated with asthma... This study shows that phthalates, within the range of what is normally found in indoor environments, are associated with allergic symptoms in children.”
(“The Association Between Asthma and Allergic Symptoms in Children and Phthalates in House Dusts,” Bornehag, Carl-Gustaf, et al. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Environmental Health Perspectives Oct. 2004. http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2004/7187/abstract.html?section=children) |
In September 2005, a National Institute of Environmental Health Services study found that:
“Phthalates adversely affect the male reproductive system in animals . . . In conclusion, our findings support the hypothesis that the human testis may be vulnerable to phthalate exposure during development... This is to our knowledge the first report showing an association between phthalate exposure and reproductive hormones in boys.”
(“Human Breast Milk Contamination with Phthalates and Alterations of Endogenous Reproductive Hormones in Three Month Old Infants.” Main, Katharina, et al. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Environmental Health Perspectives, September 7, 2005, doi:10.1289/ehp.8075) |
Where are Phthalates Found in the Home?
All soft and flexible vinyl generally contains phthalates. In the environment of a baby and small child, the single most prominent source of phthalates may be the crib mattress that a baby sleeps on. Another common source of phthalates can be found in the vinyl waterproof pad placed directly under the baby in a crib.
How Can Phthalates Get From the Vinyl to a Baby?
Phthalates (including DEHP) leach out of vinyl, the surface material of nearly all crib mattresses in the U.S. today.
In the June 2003, American Academy of Pediatrics report, it also noted that
“Phthalates are not covalently bound to the plastic matrix and leach out of PVC...”
(Shea, Katherine M. MD MPH and the Committee on Environmental Health. “Pediatric Exposure and Potential Toxicity
of Phthalate Plasticizers.” American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatrics Volume 111 No. 6. June 2003. Pg. 1467. http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;111/6/1467) |
In July 2000, a Health Care Without Harm study in hospitals quantified the exposures and the sources of DEHP phthalates (the most common type used in baby mattresses). It noted that
“Other potential respiratory exposures to DEHP in the NICU include off-gassing from vinyl floorings, wall-coverings, mattress covers... the off-gassing of DEHP can result in respiratory exposures as high as 0.86 mg DEHP/kg bw/day... DEHP exposures continue when the neonate arrives at home... off-gassing of indoor vinyl products.”
(Brody, Charlotte. “Neonatal Exposure to DEHP and Opportunities for Prevention.” Health Care Without Harm. July 13, 2000. www.noharm.org/details.cfm?type=document&id=379) |
You’ll be shocked!
A crib mattress is a pretty big pile of chemicals. You'll be more than shocked when you realize what’s in that crib mattress.
“...some crib mattress covers emit mixtures of chemicals capable of causing acute toxicity to the respiratory tract... Children breathing these emissions for 8 to 12 hours every night might absorb and accumulate considerable amounts of some of the emitted chemicals... several of the chemicals emitted by mattress cover A (i.e., toluene, xylenes, trichloroethylene, isopropylbenzene, ethylbenzene, and phenol) are toxic... children sleep with their noses very near to these mattress covers and most likely receive a relatively high dose of these emissions on a repeated basis...” |
“...crib mattresses emitted mixtures of chemicals capable of causing respiratory-tract irritation and generating combinations of SI [sensory irritation], PI [pulmonary irritation] and AFL [airflow limitation]... chemicals... involved in the manufacture of the mattress and cover... have toxic properties... to lung, liver, and brain... respiratory tract irritants... carcinogenic and neurotoxic...”
(“Respiratory Toxicity in Mice Exposed to Mattress Covers,” Rosalind C. Anderson, Julius H. Anderson, Archives of Environmental Health, May 1999, www.andersonlaboratories.com) |
- A baby breathes the air in the immediate vicinity of a crib mattress
- A baby breathes this air for ten or more hours a day
- A baby breathes this air for two or more years
Phthalates Are Becoming Front Page News
A major study was recently done regarding the effects of phthalates on children by the University of Rochester School of Medicine. This study demonstrated that phthalates are associated with negative reproductive effects. In particular:
“Consistent toxicologic evidence indicates association between several of these phthalate esters and reproductive effects... DEHP has been shown to... reduce testosterone... commonly used phthalates may undervirilize humans.”
(Swan, et al, “Decrease in Anogenital Distance Among Male Infants with Prenatal Phthalate Exposure.” University of Rochester School of Medicine, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Environmental Health Perspectives, June, 2005. www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CYP/is_8_113/ai_n15343367) |
This particular research on phthalates caught the attention of USA Today. In a front page article (May 27, 2005), USA Today quoted Andrea Dunaif, chief of endocrinology at Northwestern University, who called the findings “strong evidence in humans that this endocrine-disrupting chemical is associated with changes in boys (rising male infertility rates)... The public health implications are enormous.”
Meanwhile, Phthalates are Legal |
In 1998, the National Environmental Trust, together with other environmental groups, asked the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to ban the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in products intended for children under age 5. While the CPSC could not entirely ban PVC, the CPSC did ask manufacturers of baby products to voluntarily discontinue the use of phthalate plasticizers, particularly regarding toys which can be mouthed. Many manufacturers are complying regarding toys. However, manufacturers are not removing phthalate plasticizers from crib mattresses (as this would turn the crib mattress surface into hard plastic and make it unusable).
Phthalates are being banned elsewhere however:
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Six (6) varieties of phthalates (including DEHP) have limited bans as of 2004 in the European Union
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More comprehensive European Union bans are coming
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In the U.S., there are advisories from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the FDA, and others. However, there is no action yet to begin banning phthalates.
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When Will Phthalates Be Totally Gone From Crib Mattresses? |
Let's get some perspective. Paint, for example, used to be manufactured with lead in it (it was called “lead in paint” or just “lead paint”). For many years, the scientific and medical communities knew that lead didn’t belong in household paint. Yet lead was widespread. All the scientific and medical studies didn’t get the lead out of paint. Manufacturers took lead out of paint only when Congress passed a law forcing them to ñ not a day earlier. It's not much different with phthalates. Phthalates, especially in crib mattresses, will only be entirely removed when the law forces manufacturers to remove them.
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Healthier Alternatives |
Healthier baby mattresses are increasingly becoming available. Much like food, cosmetics, or other healthful products, consumers are demanding healthier alternatives for themselves and their babies.
Healthier baby mattresses can be found on the internet and in some limited geographic locations. If you would like a healthier mattress to be carried in your area, recommend this to your local store. Stores will carry them when consumers demand them.
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Reprinted by NaturePedic with permission from G.E.M. Testing & Engineering Labs.
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The NaturePedic® Design
G.E.M Testing & Engineering Labs, on behalf of NaturePedic,
developed and designed the No-Compromise™ Baby Mattress to
address the concerns of parents and doctors as presented in this
report. The NaturePedic No-Compromise Baby Mattress has been designed
in accordance with the following paramaters:
o NATURAL MATERIALS: The No-Compromise Baby Mattress utilizes
cotton, a natural material with favorable qualities and an extensive
history in mattresses and similar products. In particular, cotton
has low toxicity concerns. Cotton provides for good air circulation
while maintaining more even humidity and balanced temperatures.
It has the ideal density for firm yet comfortable bedding.
o NON-TOXIC DESIGN: The design of the No-Compromise Baby
Mattress strives to eliminate materials which may be toxic, hazardous,
or otherwise potentially harmful, as is reasonably achievable.
The following are specifically prohibited:
o NO Phthalates
o NO Vinyl (Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC)
o NO Polyurethane Foam
o NO dangerous Fire Retardant Chemicals (PBDE's, Antimony, Modacrylic,
etc.)
o NO Scrap or Pig Hair Fiber Pads
o FIRE PROTECTION: The No-Compromise Baby Mattress is designed
to meet and exceed Federal and State Flammability Standards, and
exceed such standards by the highest possible margin reasonably
achievable. Cotton naturally has a low rate of combustion and does
not burst into flames when ignited as compared with polyurethane
foam and PVC, eliminating the need for harsh industrial fire retardant
chemicals. To maximize fire protection, FlameBreaker™, a non-toxic
fire barrier system based on baking soda's unique fire retardant
properties has been developed.
o FIRM SUPPORT: The No-Compromise Baby Mattress uses extra
firm high coil count orthopedic innersprings, providing the optimum
pediatrician recommended firmness and comfort levels. The design
also features heavy-duty border rods for extra side and edge support.
More Information on NaturePedic
No-Compromise Baby Mattress
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