Friday, 22 July 2011

Potential Risk of Using Mothballs Around Babies

How many people are aware of this I wonder?

I recently heard about the danger of naphthalene exposure on radio and was prompted to look into it as I had no prior knowledge of the issue. The chemical naphthalene is commonly present in mothballs. If you use mothballs in the home you may be familiar with its risks however; for those who aren't this info is definitely worth passing on. I don't think a safety issue can ever be over-stated; especially one which places newborn babies in particular, at risk. Naphthalene exposure can occur simply by breathing its vapours from clothes or bedding that have been stored in mothballs! At the very least, blankets and clothes that have been stored in mothballs should be well-aired before use but washing before use is recommended. Exposure to the chemical can cause damage to blood cells and in extreme cases, brain damage. Please take a minute to read the linked file.
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/factsheets/environmental/naphtalene.html

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