T James Sprott OBE 10 Combes Road
MSc PhD FNZIC Remuera
Consulting Chemist Auckland 1005
Forensic Scientist New Zealand

Phone & fax: 64-9-5231150
9 April 2003


MEDIA RELEASE

SPROTT CONGRATULATES SIDS NEW ZEALAND FOR PROMOTING MATTRESS-WRAPPING TO
PARENTS

Dr Jim Sprott is congratulating cot death prevention organisation SIDS New
Zealand for adopting policies which actively promote mattress-wrapping for
cot death prevention.

The first cot death prevention organisation to break away from promoting
solely Ministry of Health advice, SIDS New Zealand is now - like Dr Sprott -
informing parents about mattress-wrapping for cot death prevention.

Dr Sprott singled out for special praise the bassinet loan scheme under
which SIDS New Zealand provides bassinets and mattresses to needy parents.
Mattresses lent out by SIDS New Zealand are enclosed in mattress covers
which meet Dr Sprott's specifications for cot death prevention, and in
addition parents are provided with Dr Sprott's full bedding instructions.

Research published by the Scottish Cot Death Trust in the British Medical
Journal in November last year proved that the risk of cot death rises
markedly as mattresses are re-used from one baby to the next(1) - a
situation which frequently occurs in poorer families.

"SIDS New Zealand are to be applauded for their progressive stance in
promoting mattress-wrapping for cot death prevention," said Dr Sprott.
"Bearing in mind that cot death is more prevalent among low income families
(especially Maori families), SIDS New Zealand's policy of issuing wrapped
mattresses to needy families is a great step forward for cot death
prevention in New Zealand.

"Along with the eight-year Cot Life 2000 mattress-wrapping campaign(2), SIDS
New Zealand is now in the forefront of cot death prevention in this
 country."

Dr Sprott is encouraging members of the public who wish to make a financial
contribution to cot death prevention to extend their support to SIDS New
Zealand.(3)

Notes:

1. Tappin et al, Used infant mattresses and sudden infant death syndrome in
Scotland: case-control study, British Medical Journal 2002;325:1007.

2. Since late 1994 Dr Sprott has been publicising mattress-wrapping for cot
death prevention nationwide in New Zealand, and during that time a very
large number of babies have slept on wrapped mattresses. There has been no
reported cot death among those babies, and during that period the New
Zealand cot death rate has fallen by 48% and the Pakeha rate by an estimated
75%.

3. To contact SIDS New Zealand phone 0800-164455. SIDS New Zealand is
independent of the New Zealand Cot Death Association (which ran the now
discontinued Red Nose Day appeal in New Zealand).

[END]

Media Release - Cot death/SIDS - Warning re bedding sheepskins
T James Sprott OBE 10 Combes Road
MSc PhD FNZIC Remuera
Consulting Chemist Auckland 1005
Forensic Scientist New Zealand

Phone & fax: 64-9-5231150

3 April 2003


MEDIA RELEASE

Scientist warns parents about new research into bedding sheepskins:
Generation of highly toxic gas from sheepskins proved

New Zealand scientist Dr Jim Sprott OBE is warning parents and babycare
advisers in Britain about information contained in new research which proves
the generation of highly toxic gas from bedding sheepskins.

The research(1) co-authored by Dr Bill Cullen and others at the Chemistry
Department of the University of British Columbia, is scheduled for
publication in a research journal later this year.

Dr Cullen's team has proved indisputably that the highly toxic gas
trimethylarsine
(derived from arsenic) can be generated from sheepskin used as baby bedding.
However, using data regarding the effects of trimethylarsine when inhaled by
mice,
the researchers have stated that the amount of this gas generated from
sheepskins
would be unlikely to result in the death of babies.

"The researchers' comparison between babies and mice is totally invalid,"
said Dr
Sprott. "It is well known that babies can ingest trimethylarsine not only by
breathing the gas in, but also by absorbing it through their skin. Gas
generated
from a baby's bedding can readily be trapped around the baby's skin by
clothing and
bedding - and a baby's skin is immature and permeable to gases, including
trimethylarsine. In addition, bedding often contains residues of laundry
detergents, and traces of these chemicals on a baby's skin greatly increases
the
rate at which gas passes through the skin. So the researchers' reference to
mice is
totally invalid."

Trimethylarsine is a highly toxic "nerve" gas. It is an anticholinesterase
agent,
and a minute dose can result in cessation of heart and lung functions,
thereby
causing death.

"Dr Cullen's proof that bedding sheepskin can generate one of the most toxic
gases
known is crucial information for parents," said Dr Sprott. "It is very
important
for parents to be warned against using sheepskins as infant bedding."

Dr Sprott is issuing parallel media releases to Governments, researchers,
babycare
organisations and the media in the USA, Canada, Britain, Europe, Australia
and New
Zealand.

"I am not prepared to stand by and permit babies - particularly in the
'sheepskin
rich' countries of Britain, Australia and New Zealand - to be put at risk
because a
group of researchers in Canada publish a conclusion about sheepskins which
is based
on an invalid comparison between babies and mice," said Dr Sprott.

Since late 1994 Dr Sprott has publicised a mattress-wrapping protocol for
cot death prevention throughout New Zealand and in other countries,
including Britain. This protocol, which covers both mattresses and bedding,
specifically warns parents against using sheepskins as baby bedding (based
on Dr Sprott's research into concentrations of phosphorus, arsenic and
antimony in sheepskins).

There has been no reported cot death among the very large number of babies
who have slept on mattresses wrapped in accordance with Dr Sprott's
mattress-wrapping protocol. In New Zealand, since the mattress-wrapping
campaign commenced the cot death rate has fallen by 48%(2), and the use of
sheepskins as baby bedding has declined significantly in that country.(3)

Footnotes:

1. "Arsenic methylation by microorganisms isolated from sheepskin bedding
materials"
Authors: Corinne Lehr, Elena Polishchuk, Marie-Chantal Delisle, Catherine
Franz,
Bill Cullen

2. >From 2.1 deaths per 1000 live births in 1994 to 1.1/1000 in 2000
(provisional)

3. Ford et al, "Changes to Infant Sleep Practices in Canterbury", New
Zealand
Medical Journal, January 2000


[END]