Given that millions of unwrapped mattresses contain phosphorus, arsenic or antimony, why aren there more crib deaths?
In order for crib death to occur, the following circumstances must co-exist in the baby’s crib : 1. The mattress (or other bedding) beneath the baby must contain phosphorus, arsenic or antimony. 2. The condition of the mattress or bedding must support fungal growth (for example, be damp with sweat or milk, or contaminated with urine). 3. Fungi capable of generating gases from phosphorus, arsenic and antimony must be growing in the mattress or bedding. 4. The fungi must be sufficiently active to produce a lethal dose of the gases. 5. The baby must ingest a lethal dose (for example, because the baby is sleeping face down, or because there is insufficient ventilation around the baby to disperse the gases). It is uncommon for all these circumstances to co-exist in a baby’s crib. Many babies are exposed to sub-lethal doses of toxic gas/es in their cribs, and no immediate harm results. Occasionally, however, all the above circumstances do co-exist and a crib death ensues.
