HC Deb 19 March 1991 vol 188 cc86-7W
Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome in each year since 1982.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The information is shown in the table.

Number of infant deaths with any mention of sudden infant death1 on the death certificate, and rate per 1.000 livebirths England and Wales 1982–89
Number Rate per 1,000 livebirths
Males Females Persons Males Females Persons
1982 822 510 1,332 2.6 1.7 2.1
1983 827 488 1,315 2.6 1.6 2.1
1984 716 526 1,242 2.2 1.7 2.0
1985 787 514 1,301 2.3 1.6 2.0
1986 945 559 1,504 2.8 1.7 2.3
1987 918 610 1,528 2.6 1.8 2.2
1988 991 602 1,593 2.8 1.8 2.3
1989 811 515 1,326 2.3 1.5 1.9
1 Includes "cot death" or similar term

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects(a) to receive and (b) to publish the report of the group of independent experts asked in March 1990 to investigate the claim that the emission of toxic gases from fungal growth on cot mattresses can be a cause of cot death; what form the inquiry took; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The report of the working group of independent experts set up by the chief medical officer has been given to him and will be published shortly. The form of inquiry is explained in the report.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if any blood tests done on babies which suffered sudden infant death syndrome show an elevated level of arsenic, antimony or phosphorous.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

There are no reports of elevated blood levels of any of these chemicals from pathologists who have carried out post-mortem examinations on infants who suffered from sudden infant death syndrome—SIDS. Such tests would be done only if specifically indicated.

We are aware that an independent researcher has reported that blood tests in three infants who suffered SIDS had antimony levels above the background levels measured by his laboratory in 100 healthy infants. As the normal range of blood antimony levels in infants is uncertain, it is not possible to say whether these findings are clinically significant.

This matter is considered in the report of the expert working group which will be published shortly.

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