“In 1995, CPSC [Consumer Product Safety Commission] conducted a field investigation study to learn more about cigarette-ignited fires and open flame fires.
The report, issued in 1997, showed that about 70% of the open flame fires involved child play and that 68% of the open flame deaths were to children playing with
lighters, matches, and other open flame sources.”
(Consumer Product Safety Commission “Standard to Address Open Flame Ignition of Mattresses/Bedding; Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.” 16CFR Part 1633.
Federal Register/Vol. 66, No. 197/October 11, 2001, Pg. 51886)
|
Sleeping on a petroleum based polyurethane foam mattress may rob you and your child of precious life differentiating moments. Untreated polyurethane
foam is so flammable that it will literally explode into a ball of fire within seconds. Even more dangerous than the fire itself is the carbon monoxide and
other deadly gases released by polyurethane foam as well as the associated significant reduction of available oxygen.
“Hazardous decomposition products [from flexible polyurethane foam] include: carbon monoxide, acetaldehyde, acrylonitrile, 2,4-toluene di-isocyanate, polymer fragments,
oxides of nitrogen, and hydrogen cyanide. Fire retardant foams may generate emissions of hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide, hydrogen flouride, or phosphoric acid...”
(“National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Flexible Polyurethane Foam Production” U.S. EPA. Federal Register. October 7, 1998. Vol. 63. No. 194.
www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-AIR/1998/October/Day-07/a25894.htm)
|
“Thermal decomposition products from polyurethane foam consists mainly of carbon monoxide, benzene, toluene, oxides of nitrogen, hydrogen cyanide,
acetaldehyde, acetone, propane...”
(OSHA Hazard Information Bulletins. “The Fire Hazard of Polyurethane and Other Organic Foam Insulation Aboard Ships and In Construction.” U.S. Department
of Labor. Occupational Safety & Health Administration. www.osha.gov/dts/hib/hib_data/hib19890510.html)
|
While the above studies did not involve baby mattresses per se, it is nonetheless clear that polyurethane foam constitutes
a widespread concern, especially in those products
impacting babies and young children.
In order to reduce the inherent fire hazard of polyurethane foam, harsh industrial fire retardants are typically added. However,
this only trades one problem for another.
These added toxic fire retardants pose their own health hazards, even while a baby
is simply sleeping.
|
