Research which Confirms and
supports the toxic gas theory for Cot Death (Crib Death)
Publication of the
toxic gas theory:
- The toxic gas theory for cot death was published by
British scientist Barry Richardson in 1994: Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome: a possible primary cause,
Journal of the Forensic Science Society
1994;34(3):199-204
Publication of proof of the gas
generation involved:
The fungal generation of extremely toxic nerve gases from
compounds of phosphorus, arsenic and antimony has been
demonstrated many times over the last century. Recent
confirmations are:
- Toxic gas generation from plastic mattresses and
sudden infant death syndrome, Lancet
1995;346:1516-20
- Confirmation of the Biomethylation of Antimony
Compounds, Applied Organometallic Chemistry 1997;
Vol. 11, 471-483
Publication of proof of the presence
of fungal growth in babies' mattresses:
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: a possible primary
cause, Journal of the Forensic Science Society
1994;34(3):199-204
- Final Report of the Expert Group to Investigate Cot
Death Theories: Toxic Gas Hypothesis (Limerick Report),
May 1998
Publication of proof of the presence
of the elements phosphorus, arsenic and antimony in babies'
bedding:
- Analyses of bedding reported by Jim Sprott in The
Cot Death Cover-up? (Penguin, 1996)
Publication of proof of the generation
of highly toxic gases from compounds of phosphorus, arsenic
and antimony in babies' mattresses and other bedding:
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: a possible primary
cause, Journal of the Forensic Science Society
1994;34(3):199-204
- Microbial studies of sheepskin bedding, W R Cullen,
Sixth SIDS International Conference, Auckland, February
2000
Publication of proof that the re-use
of mattresses increases the risk of cot death (a corollary
of the toxic gas theory):
- Case-control study of sudden infant death syndrome
in Scotland, 1992-5, British Medical Journal
1997;314:1516-20
Proof that the risk of cot death rises
from first to second babies; and from second to third
babies; and from third to fourth and later babies; and that
babies of solo parents are at higher risk again (a corollary
of the fact that re-use of mattresses increases the risk of
cot death):
- Analysis of official British statistics
The finding of the rising risk of cot death from one
sibling to the next refutes every proposition that cot
death has a medical cause. The more times an unwrapped
mattress is used from one baby to the next, the greater
is the risk of cot death.
This accounts for the higher cot death rate among poorer
families, who are more likely to sleep their babies on
previously used mattresses.
If a mattress contains any of the elements phosphorus,
arsenic or antimony, and if certain household fungi have
become established in the mattress during prior use, any
generation of toxic gas commences sooner and in greater
volume.
Publication of proof that later babies
in a family are more at risk of cot death than first babies
(a corollary of the fact that re-use of mattresses increases
the risk of cot death):
- Risk factors of sudden infant death in Chinese
babies, American Journal of Epidemiology
1997;144:1070-73
Publication of proof that face-up
sleeping reduces the risk of cot death:
- All studies which show that face-up sleeping reduces
the risk of cot death support the toxic gas theory.
Face-up sleeping reduces the risk because the gases
concerned are more dense than air; they diffuse away
from a baby's mattress towards the floor, so a baby
sleeping face-up is less likely to ingest them.
Publication of proof that cot death
babies show physiological effects of gaseous poisoning:
- Decreased Kainate Receptor Binding in the Arcuate
Nucleus of the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Journal
of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology
1997;56:1253-61: proof that cot death babies have
neurochemical deficits consistent with poisoning by
nerve gases
Publication of proof that the cot
death risk varies with mattress type:
- New Zealand Cot Death Study (1987-1990)
Publication of proof that the cot
death risk in Britain is less on PVC-covered mattresses:
- CESDI study (Britain), reported in Lancet
1995;345:720
Any part of a baby's mattress which contains the
chemicals phosphorus, arsenic and/or antimony is capable
of the gas generation which causes cot death.
If, therefore, a mattress is covered with a
gas-impermeable diaphragm which does not contain those
chemicals, the risk of cot death is eliminated.
Accordingly, following removal of those chemicals from
British plastic-covered mattresses from 1989 onwards,
the risk of cot death in Britain is less on PVC-covered
mattresses (which are very frequently used in Britain).
Thus the finding by the CESDI study that babies are less
at risk on PVC-covered mattresses supports the toxic gas
theory for cot death.
Book regarding the toxic gas theory
for cot death
- Jim Sprott, The Cot Death Cover-up? (Penguin,
1996).
Practical proof of the fact that
mattress-wrapping prevents cot death:
- Mattress-wrapping for cot death prevention (to
prevent exposure of babies to gases generated in
mattresses) has been publicised in New Zealand since
late 1994.
- Mattress-wrapping is the only new item of cot death
prevention advice publicised in New Zealand since 1992.
- It is known from sales figures for BabeSafe
cot mattress covers that tens of thousands of
New Zealand parents have wrapped their babies'
mattresses in accordance with the Cot Life
2000 specifications.
- From 1994 to 1999 the New Zealand nationwide cot
death rate fell by 48% and the Pakeha (European) rate by
an estimated 70%.
- The Ministry of Health has confirmed that
mattress-wrapping is more prevalent among the Pakeha
(European) community than among other ethnic groups.
- There has been no reported cot death on any mattress
wrapped in accordance with the Cot Life
2000 specifications.
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