| Sheepskins almost invariably contain significant quantities of phosphorus, and in addition many New Zealand sheepskins contain significant quantities of arsenic. Action of common household fungi on compounds of phosphorus and arsenic can lead to the generation of intensely poisonous nerve gases known as (respectively) phosphines and arsines.
Sheepskin bedding and the sudden infant death syndrome, J Pediatr 1998; 133(5):701-4 At the Sixth SIDS International Conference in February 2000, scientist Dr W R Cullen reported proof of the generation of trimethylarsine (a form of arsine) from sheepskin intended for use as baby bedding. Arsenic methylation by micro-organisms isolated from sheepskin bedding materials, Human & Experimental Toxicology (2003) 22:325-334 unprotected sheepskins.
This gas generation resulted in the deaths of many children in Europe during the 1800s. The cause of these deaths was discovered by the Italian chemist Gosio in 1892. Azione di alcune muffe sui composti fissi d'arsenico, Riv d'Igiene e San Publ (1892) 3:201-230 & 261-273; Action de quelques moisissures sur les composes fixes d'arsenic, Arch Ital Biol (1893) 18:253-265 Sheepskins have been shown by analysis to contain far more phosphorus and arsenic than is necessary to poison a baby by phosphine and/or arsine gas generation. (To view results of analysis, click on the sidebar heading Bedding analyses.) |