Is camphor harmful to babies?

When clothes are kept in the closet for a long time and have not been taken out, you will see some mold on the clothes. At this time, you need to put some mothballs in the closet, which can remove pests and reduce moisture. For newly renovated houses, placing some mothballs in the new house can also remove odors and formaldehyde. However, many parents are worried. Will mothballs cause physical harm to babies?

1. Are mothballs harmful to babies?

Mothballs are harmful to babies. Most of the mothballs on the market now are artificially synthesized. The main ingredients are naphthol and paradichlorobenzene. They are volatile and have certain toxicity. They have certain effects on adults, and the impact is even greater for infants.

2. What harm do mothballs do to babies?

As we all know, babies have relatively weak resistance and are easily affected by external factors. Most infants' red blood cells lack enzymes and their liver's detoxification function is insufficient. If they happen to wear clothes that have been stored with mothballs, their red blood cells will be destroyed, leading to acute hemolysis, manifested as rapid anemia, severe jaundice, and strong tea-like urine, causing heart failure. Severe jaundice can affect the brain and cause kernicterus, which can be life-threatening or leave varying degrees of intellectual impairment.

3. How to eliminate the adverse effects of mothballs on babies?

Baby's clothes should not come into contact with mothballs. Clothes that have come into contact with mothballs should be placed in the sun before wearing or taken out to dry in advance. Adult clothes that have been put with mothballs should also be aired and dried for a while before wearing. Wait until the smell disappears before wearing them and holding the baby.

4. Tips

If there are babies in the family and mothballs are used, it is recommended to ventilate the room more often. Indoor and outdoor air circulation is an effective way to remove harmful gases in the room. In addition, many plants in nature have adsorption effects. Some can absorb dust particles in the air, and some can directly absorb harmful gases. Placing more plants such as green ivy, spider plants, cacti, agave, etc. in the house where mothballs are placed can also accelerate the removal of harmful gases.