Research which confirms the toxic gas theory for cot death (SIDS)

Publication of the toxic gas theory for cot death:

The toxic gas theory for cot death (SIDS, crib 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

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

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

Proof of the presence of phosphorus, arsenic and antimony in babies' mattresses and other bedding:

Analyses of mattresses and bedding reported by Dr Jim Sprott in The Cot Death Cover-up? (Penguin Books: New Zealand 1996; Britain 1997). To view the analytical results, click on Bedding analyses.

Proof of the generation of 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
The evolution of phosphine from cot mattress materials, M G Fitzpatrick, Department of Chemistry, University of Auckland (Final Report to the New Zealand Cot Death Association, December 1997)
Arsenic methylation by micro-organisms isolated from sheepskin bedding materials, Human & Experimental Toxicology (2003) 22:325-334

Proof that 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
Used infant mattresses and sudden infant death syndrome in Scotland: case-control study, British Medical Journal 2002;325:1007-1009

Proof that the risk of cot death rises from first to second babies in families; 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 cot death statistics (Source: Office of National Statistics, United Kingdom)

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 lower socio-economic families, who are more likely to sleep babies on secondhand 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.

Proof that later babies in a family are at greater risk of cot death than first babies (a corollary of the fact that re-use of mattresses increases cot death risk):

Risk factors of sudden infant death in Chinese babies, American Journal of Epidemiology 1997;144:1070-73

Proof that face-up sleeping reduces the risk of cot death (a corollary of the toxic gas theory):

All studies (of which there are many) which show that face-up sleeping reduces the risk of cot death confirm the toxic gas theory. Face-up sleeping reduces the risk because the gases which cause cot death are more dense than air; they diffuse away from a baby's mattress towards the floor, with the result that a baby sleeping face-up is less likely to ingest them.

Proof that cot death babies show physiological effects of environmental gaseous poisoning (a corollary of the toxic gas theory):

Decreased Kaintate Receptor Binding in the Arcuate Nucleus of the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology 1997;56:1253-61
Synaptic Neurochemistry of Human Striatum During Development: Changes in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Journal of Neurochemistry 1993;60(6):2098-2105

Proof that cot death risk varies with mattress type (a corollary of the toxic gas theory):

New Zealand Cot Death Study (1997-1990)

Proof that the cot death risk in Britain is less on PVC-covered mattresses (a corollary of the removal of antimony from cot mattresses following publicity about the toxic gas theory in Britain in 1989):

Confidential Enquiry into Sudden Deaths in Infancy CESDI, 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 itself contain those chemicals, the risk of cot death from the mattress 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 confirms the toxic gas theory for cot death.

Book about the toxic gas theory:

Jim Sprott, The Cot Death Cover-up? (Penguin Books: New Zealand 1996; Britain 1997).

Publication of statistical results of the New Zealand mattress-wrapping campaign:

Giftige Gase im Kinderbett (Toxic Gases in Infants' Beds), Zeitschrift fuer Umweltmedizin (Journal of Environmental Medicine) 2002;44:18-20
Cot Death - Cause and Prevention: Experiences in New Zealand 1995-2004, Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine 2004;14(3):221-232

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