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A Theory for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

2/1/2011


I am a Licensed Master of the HVAC Industry ( Heating, Venting & Air Conditioning) wherein lies my expertise of knowing a buildings environment. In 1991 I happened to work on two different jobs where a SIDS event had happened recently within months of the work I was doing at these jobs. This sparked my curiosity because I suspected that there might be a connection to the SIDS events and the environment of these homes. So I started doing research on SIDS over the Internet to see what information I could find that would relate to the environment where they took place. The more I researched about the conditions I found with SIDS , the more connections I made to this theory that I was developing. Basically I was developing a theory that high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) could be responsible in some way for causing these events. Once I refined this theory, I attempted to get it out those in the Medical community & was totally dismissed by almost everyone I’ve talked to. My motives were questioned in this attempt and the funny thing is, who cares is what my motives are if an answer could be found to prevent any SIDS. Isn't that what's important? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the parents of a SIDS had a real reason for this rather than not knowing anything at all? I feel that enough credibility will be shown with this theory that totally warrants at least some kind of research and investigation with SIDS and with that being said, I will now explain the theory I have developed.

Carbon Dioxide is a clear order less gas that comes from any kind of fuel being burned, whether it is from natural gas, propane, fuel oil, kerosene or any other type of fuel. Carbon dioxide is always a by-product of any flame unlike carbon monoxide which is only a by-product from an unclean burn. So in a home some of the potential common sources for carbon dioxide are a furnace, a water heater, a gas cooking range, a gas oven, a fireplace or many other sources of a fuel burning product. Just think of any fuel burning appliance that could be within a home and that is a potential source of carbon dioxide. I have seen many, many ways where these various appliances have spent their carbon dioxide into the home creating higher levels that should be normal. There is no doubt in my mind that this in fact exists because of my 33 years experience in dealing with the home and businesses environment.

So let’s get it into perspective here, we start with a mother and father living in a given environment of a home where from some source within that home there are higher levels of carbon dioxide being introduced into that environment be it from a furnace, a gas range or something other appliance. Not only are they breathing higher levels of carbon dioxide consistently but the entire home and everything within that home are saturated as well. So it stands to reason that while the mother is being exposed in this home rich in carbon dioxide before, during and after her pregnancy, the unborn infant is also exposed to this carbon dioxide rich environment. After the infant is born in the hospital it then returns back to the same carbon dioxide rich environment in the home. Now if this home and everything in it that is porous has been saturated with carbon dioxide that would include the baby’s mattress as well as other porous surfaces the baby may be laid on. To me that mattress could be a reservoir of carbon dioxide combining with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and other items that would tend to offset the baby’s normal breathing mixture. I know that our body uses a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide to regulate our breathing. So it is my thought that with the mother breathing this carbon dioxide rich environment introducing it to the unborn child in may alter the normal panic stage a person experiences when confronted with high levels of carbon dioxide. If the baby has been conditioned to high levels of carbon dioxide then it just might react differently than what we know to be normal. This might be a possible explanation for the term crib death. Not only has the infant been exposed since conception to higher carbon dioxide levels through the mother and then being exposed again upon return from the hospital, there are reservoirs within the bedding, pillows and the mattresses.

Another interesting fact I found is that SIDS are much more frequent in the colder months and no one seems to know why. With my knowledge of the home environment this makes sense because in the winter the home is much more closed up making for less fresh air to enter the home. When you vent a furnace and a water heater they’re taking the combustion products but means venting system. Most of these venting systems are based on gravity where the heat of these burns rises taking the byproducts out and through the roof through pipes. The colder the weather the more chance of what we call back drafting. If it gets cold enough and the right conditions occur this venting system can actually flow backwards. I’ve seen this many, many times in my career first hand. If a gas stove and oven are within a home, these appliances are not vented outside so all of the carbon dioxide from the burn of the fuel is released within the home. At the possibility of a fireplace whether it’s wood or gas burning it could release some carbon dioxide within the home. I have also personally seen this situation many times. There are enough ways for carbon dioxide to be in a given environment that I can’t list them all within this theory.

Another interesting thing I read was in the mid nineteen nineties there was a drop in sudden infant death syndrome and no one knew why. Around 1993 furnaces began coming out with draft induced blowers which meant that instead of gravity venting the exhaust from the furnace it was now induced by a small combustion fan. Along with this fan was a proving switch which only allowed the burners to come on only if the induced fan was running. The likelihood of the event back drafting spilling carbon dioxide into the environment was reduced. Along in this time period we were seeing carbon monoxide detectors coming out which led the industry to become more aware of having combustion air deliver and into the furnace and water heater room. Combustion air is extremely important because it is replacing the air being taken out of the home by gas appliances keeping the home from becoming negative in pressure and allowing the venting process to work properly.

By researching SIDS and being able to relate so many of the environmental factors that I am aware of to many of the known variables associated with SIDS the possibility of the two being connected seems very high. It is at least worth the time and effort to do some serious research. All that really matters here is for someone to look at this theory and do enough research to factually prove or disprove its possibility. This is about saving lives, children’s lives

Now for one last thought, if we put SIDS on a scale with a SIDS event on one end and a healthy child on the other end what possibilities might there be in between. Surely the space in between could not be blank. We are all well aware of the damage carbon dioxide is doing to our environment. With carbon dioxide doing damage to our planet, we as an intelligent people have to look at the possibility of carbon dioxide and how it could be damaging us. I have to believe that there is enough evidence of a connection between sudden infant death syndrome and the environment that is around this child that it warrants a serious look. There is no one answer for sudden infant death syndrome because sudden infant death syndrome actually means an unknown cause of death. If this theory were to prove correct there would still be sudden infant death syndrome. There would just be fewer deaths. That would be awesome!

 

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