Question from Martina
Hi Debra,
Thanks for your work – I’ve been reading your newsletter/website for a long time and appreciate the research you do.
I have a young child at home and am trying to find a non-toxic play mat for him where he can play and learn to crawl (so I’d prefer a mat that isn’t slippery). After spending a lot of time researching this, I’ve run across this mat:
Dwinguler My Town Large Kid’s Playmat.
In reading the comments, it seems like the mat is 45% PVC and 55% plasticizer. What are your thoughts on this? Is it safe for a young child to spend a lot of time on?
Debra’s Answer
NO NO NO NO NO. It’s NOT safe.
I was just researching this yesterday.
What “45% PVC and 55% plasticizer” means is it’s 45% vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) which causes cancer, and 55% phthalates, which are endocrine disruptors.
Do not use this mat.
I recommend instead SoftTiles, which I looked into thoroughly and even ordered samples. They are made from EVA, which is much less toxic, and were tested to be free of formaldehyde, BPA, and phthalates.
And here are many EVA floor tiles and play mats online.
Under the Nile has 100% certified organic cotton rugs/play mats . 4’x6′ I have used theses in our home and I really like them . Easy to wash, pick up and throw down anywhere. However they don’t provide much cushion but rather a healthy clean surface for your child to sit and play on.
It says they are 100% Egyptian organic cotton GOTS certified
NO Azo colorants, BPA, flame retardants, formaldehyde, fragrance, PVC or lead
Hers the link: http://underthenile.com/collections/rugs-for-your-home/products/big-rug
I am not sure why people are looking at comments to determine what the dwinguler playmate are made of. The booklet that comes with it does not state it has any PVC. It’s made of acryl and urethane.
At Organic Designs, aside from our organic nap mats, toddler pillows and pillow cases, we also offer organic toddler play mats. They also double as a toddler comforter and last parents years to come and the ability to use for multiple children. They are constructed with 100% organic cotton fabric and filled with 100% organic cotton batting. There is no polyester/foam/corks/flame retardants or any kind of toxic chemicals in them. They are also made in the USA. You can find them on our website http://www.organicdesignsco.com under Toddler Comforters.
We would also like offer $6 flat rate shipping on organic play mats to all Debra Lynn readers with code DEBRALYNN at check out. Refund will be applied same day.
Debra, have you come across any information about formamide in EVA foam mats? I came across that concern while looking for mats a few years back. It seems to me that the concerns are similar to formaldehyde – i.e., it is carcinogenic, and saying a product is “free” of it means only below a certain limit. Belgium and France banned the foam mats, apparently. I just did a quick search and didn’t see much beyond the articles I saw a couple years ago, except for this update from Dec. 2015. http://toxicfoammats.com/2015/12/01/eva-foam-puzzle-mats-latest-news-from-eu/
This is the first I’ve heard of it, so thank you for your comment.
First I just want to give a few more references to give various viewpoints on this.
Healthy Child Healthy World has some good suggestions on what to do.
The Soft Landing has a good analysis of the toxicity.
Now here’s what I want to say.
If you look up “EVA health effects” on a search engine, nothing, nothing, nothing comes up for health effects. Just nothing. Even EWG says the health concern is “low.”
So why is it that suddenly EVA play mats emit formamide?
From what I’ve read, the formamide is not an inherent part of the EVA material, but it somehow gets into the EVA material in the manufacturing process as a contaminant. I just want to clarify this. Because not all EVA emits formaldehyde, but clearly some EVA foam play mats do.
Now, the formamide also isn’t bonded forever inside the EVA.
French researchers tested three different brands of foam puzzle mats and found that the amount of outgassing decreased markedly over time.
The patterns observed were similar in all three products tested:
* first few days of use—strong emission of formamide, decreasing rapidly
* after first week of use—emission in the range of 50 to 200 µg/m3
* after first month of use—emission in the range of 20 to 30 µg/m3
It’s actually quite common for products to be sold before they are fully cured. Play mats are not the only product that follows this pattern.
Now the solution would be to let the EVA foam outgas entirely.
Or find some other type of padding for a floor mat.
Health Child Healthy World suggests making your own pay mats by enclosing crumpled scraps of natural fiber material in a case.
You could also get some polyethylene foam and make play mats.
Someone should start a new business making safe play mats!