So why don't orthodox cot death researchers tell parents to wrap babies' mattresses? DR Sprott suggests a variety of possible reasons:

• First, cot death research has been a big gravy train for medical researchers. In Britain it continues to be so (although not in New Zealand, where research funding has nearly ground to a halt as people have become aware that mattress-wrapping is easy, cheap and 100% successful in preventing cot death).
  
  
• The toxic gas theory has been publicised since 1989 (first in Britain), but it has been hotly denied by researchers and organisations responsible for advising parents. In the intervening period, many thousands of babies have died of cot death. But the New Zealand experience shows that those deaths were avoidable - and that raises the prospect of legal liability for babies' deaths.

Some researchers have stated that cot death may have a number of causes (the multifactorial theory). Not so, says DR Sprott. At this point he draws attention to a highly significant piece of information about cot death, which is demonstrated by British statistics: the cot death risk rises from the first baby in a family to the second, and from the second baby to the third, and so on. Babies of solo parents have a very high cot death rate.

DR Sprott explains that the rising rate of cot death from one sibling to the next destroys every medical and physiological theory for the cause of cot death.

• For example, some researchers think cot death is caused by babies re-breathing their exhaled carbon dioxide. However, all babies exhale a similar amount of CO2, regardless of whether they are first, second or later babies. Therefore, the rising rate of cot death from one sibling to the next refutes the CO2 theory.
  
  
• Some researchers think cot death is related to the size of babies' airways. However, for this theory to be valid would require second babies' airways to be smaller than those of first babies; and third babies' airways to be smaller than those of second babies; and so on. Clearly, therefore, the airways theory is wrong, because the size of babies' airways is not related to birth order.

So what is the explanation for the rising rate of cot death from one sibling to the next? Cot death is caused by gases generated in mattresses - and most parents re-use mattresses from one baby to the next. If a mattress contains any of the chemicals concerned and fungi have become established in the mattress during previous use by another baby, generation of toxic gas commences sooner and in greater volume when the mattress is re-used.

This accounts for the rising rate of cot death from one sibling to the next. It also accounts for the very high cot death rate among babies of solo parents, who for economic reasons are more likely to sleep their babies on previously used mattresses which they have acquired secondhand.

It all fits from a theoretical point of view, says DR Sprott - and the five-year New Zealand experience provides practical proof that mattress-wrapping prevents cot death.

Orthodox cot death researchers say that cot death rates have fallen without the introduction of mattress-wrapping - and they have. But DR Sprott points out a crucial difference: Many babies have died of cot death where parents followed orthodox cot death prevention advice - but there has been no reported cot death on a correctly wrapped mattress. Unlike orthodox advice, mattress-wrapping has a 100% success record in cot death prevention.

Please note: Mattress-wrapping must be carried out in accordance with a strict protocol. For full information, contact DR Sprott by e-mail (sprott@iconz.co.nz) or visit the following website: www.cotlife2000.co.nz

Research which confirms and supports the toxic gas theory for cot 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:

Barry Richardson, JFSS 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 Phosphorous, Arsenic and Antimony in Babies' Mattresses and Other Bedding:

Richardson, B A, "Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: a possible primary cause", Journal of the Forensic Science Society 1994;34(3):199-204

Cullen, W R, Microbial studies of sheepskin bedding", SIDS 2000 Conference, Auckland, February 2000

Fitzpatrick M G, "The Evolution of Phosphine from Cot Mattress Materials", Department of Chemistry, University of Auckland, Final Report, December 1997

Publication of Proof that the Reuse 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 Reuse 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 common 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 Reuse 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, 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 UK 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).

MEDIA RELEASE:

T James Sprott OBE
MSc PhD FNZIC
Consulting Chemist, Forensic Scientist
10 Combes Road
Remuera Auckland 5
New Zealand

23 July 2001

Sprott: Cot Deaths of Maori Twins Entirely Preventable

DR Jim Sprott is calling on the Ministry of Health to immediately endorse mattress-wrapping for cot death prevention, following the cot deaths last week of twin babies in Lower Hutt.

The twin baby girls (aged two months) died of cot death on the same day, while both were sleeping on the same mattress in a shared cot.

"These babies were poisoned by toxic gas generated in their cot mattress or bedding," said DR Sprott. "That's why they both died, on the same mattress, within an hour of each other, even though they were healthy babies. These terribly sad deaths are further proof that cot death is caused by gaseous poisoning."

Following the twins' death, DR Pat Tuohy, Chief Advisor on Child Health at the Ministry of Health, stated his opinion that the twins could have been subjected to an adverse environmental factor at the same time.

"DR Tuohy is quite correct," said DR Sprott. "Cot death is caused by environmental poisoning."

DR Sprott said that over recent years he had provided DR Tuohy with a considerable body of research which confirms and supports the toxic gas explanation for cot death. DR Tuohy was present at the SIDS 2000 Conference when a scientific expert reported proof of toxic gas generation from sheepskins used as baby bedding. "DR Tuohy is aware of the six year nationwide mattress-wrapping campaign, and that there has been no reported cot death on a wrapped mattress," said DR Sprott.

"So why won't DR Tuohy advise parents to wrap mattresses so that babies are not exposed to the toxic gases which can be generated in cots?"

DR Sprott stated that the death of the twins was entirely preventable.

DR Sprott will be contacting a Wellington lawyer regarding the possibility of group legal action by cot death parents who were not informed by babycare advisers about mattress-wrapping. He said that possible defendants included the Ministry of Health, the Plunket Society, and the National Child Health Research Foundation (the parent body of the Cot Death Association).

Every Parent Has the Right to Know!

We need to get mattress wrapping for cot death prevention recognised in the UK, All parents are entitled to know that something can be done to protect their babies from cot death. Something simple to follow and inexpensive and what's more - It Works!

Cot Life 2000 is saving babies from cot death. Please - Help Spread the Word about Cot Life 2000.

Many Thanks

Julee Oakley
juleeoakley@eurobell.co.uk

The Cot Life Society UK
http://www.geocities.com/cotlife/