Background

In May 2011, several Michigan families participated in a nation-wide study of products designed for newborns, babies, and toddlers--including car seats, breast feeding pillows, changing pads, crib wedges, bassinet mattresses and other items made with polyurethane foam--which found that 80 percent of products tested contained chemical flame retardants that are considered toxic.  The results were published in a peer-reviewed journal article ("Identification of Flame Retardants in Polyurethane Foam Collected from Baby Products," Environmental Science and Technology, May, 2011).  Some of the products contained chemicals that were phased out!  Other flame retardants were discovered that had so little health and safety data on them it is not possible to know their effects.

Halogenated flame retardants are the focus of our first study because these chemicals are associated with adverse human health effects including reduced IQ, increased time to pregnancy, endocrine and thyroid disruption, and impaired child development. The same flame retardants found in some of the products are also found in children’s bodies and widely dispersed throughout the environment.  These flame retardants do not have proven fire safety benefits, and many products don't contain them at all. 

Our Citizen Science Corps project will extend this study by seeking samples from all over the state.   

Project Goals

Citizen Science Corps will conduct a survey of children's products that contain foam to identify the extent and levels of toxic flame retardants in new and used products.

Sample Collection

Citizen scientists will be invited to submit foam samples for analysis.

Fill out our online form or download it here.

Instructions for submitting a sample:

1. Cut a 1 square inch piece of foam from your product. 
2. Place it in a sealed plastic sandwich bag.
3. Mail it to us with a copy of this form. 

If you submit the online form, you will receive an email with a confirmation number.
Please include this number in or on the envelope.

If you download the form, please print it off and send it with your sample.

Once your package arrives, your samples will be analyzed using High Definition X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and other methods if they are available. Foam samples will not be returned to you after testing and may be damaged as a result of testing. 

Please provide a description of the product (for instance, this sample came from the back of a children's car seat, or this came from a nursing pillow) and brand name of the product. If possible provide the model name, place and year of purchase.

Sign up to participate in this study.

Mail samples to:

Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health
339 E. Liberty St
Suite 300
Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Analysis and Report

Samples will be analyzed by High Definition X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and other methods if they are available.