Kids could be breathing in plasticizer chemicals from their mattresses, new study suggests – CBC

Since bedding, clothing act as barriers, researchers recommend frequent washing

Apr 15, 2025

Babies and children up to age four could be breathing in plasticizers and other chemicals from their mattresses while they sleep, a Canadian study suggests.

Federal regulations set limits on some phthalates or plasticizers, which are substances added to products to make them more flexible.

Miriam Diamond, an environmental chemist at the University of Toronto, and her team designed an experiment to estimate how much of the compounds are released into a child’s sleeping area from 16 different mattresses.

In Tuesday’s issue of the journal Environmental Science & Technology, the researchers reported that two of the mattresses tested did not comply with Canadian regulations for two phthalates and two plasticizers in consumer products.

The regulations are based on potential harm to human health and the environment. For instance, when babies are exposed to phthalates in house dust, studies suggest it is associated with higher risk of asthma.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/mattresses-children-1.7510861