Has anyone checked to see what chemical(s) resmed masks are off gasing?

[BuzzaJim]

Formaldehyde is not used nor is a byproduct in the manufacture of silicone articles.  CPAP users shouldn’t be concerned about formaldehyde from the silicone mask cushions.  I’m surprised no one is taking issue with possible off-gassing from ResMed AirFit cushions.  I agree with BigGuy, set it out in the sun to air out if there’s concern.  We have never lived in an environment free of chemical contaminants and we never will.

[G. Szabo]

Formaldehyde is not used nor is a byproduct in the manufacture of silicone articles.  

I was writing that formaldehyde is an issue with poly-urate foams.

[erouting]

Putting the mask out for a bit to air out is a good idea. I'll do that. 

I would mention that, while it is indeed impossible to avoid all chemical exposure there is a substantial difference between, as an example, naturally occurring lead in ground water and knowingly drinking out of lead pipes without filtration. As a consumer of CPAP products in a post Phillips environment I think it's perfectly reasonable to want to quantify what the nature of this risk is. CPAP products are prescription so, for me, it comes down to informed consent. I can't make an informed decision to assume a risk if I have no idea what the risk is. 

At this juncture I don't know if it's just a mild smell that has no effect whatsoever or a carcinogen that will go unnoticed for years because "sleep apnea patients don't comply with their treatment and so develop cancer at a higher than baseline rate." I have found that most doctors, especially sleep doctors and associated DMEs, are incredibly lazy and disinterested in patient welfare. They will blame absolutely everything on any condition a patient already has if it means they don't have to do their jobs, even if the symptoms don't fit the condition or data. As such if patients don't quantify this no one is likely to. And we won't know that it's dangerous until people get sick and lawsuits start. Yes, it could well be nothing, I hope it is nothing, but I'm not willing take that on faith when it's something a person with the proper equipment could answer in about 24 hours. 

I can say that I'm pretty sure it's something added to the silicone. Straight silicone doesn't have a smell but, according to a Resmed phone conversation, they don't use straight silicone. And the smell exists in pillows, cushions and frames across multiple models that do not appear to use the same plastic but do appear to use the same silicone. Normal masks, such as those used in hazmat don't really stretch out over time in the way I've found these masks do. My guess is it's a silicone additive. Either added for comfort or to make the masks fail on a schedule or both. But that's just a best guess. 

If I ever manage to get a mass spectrometer purchased and operational I'll share the results, or if I find a lab that will do so. Until then I'll follow the good advice of letting the mask air out for a week before use. Thanks for that suggestion and to everyone for their input.

[BuzzaJim]

More specifically, a GC Mass Spec which is pretty cost prohibitive for a single inquiry but your analyses would be useful.

[erouting]

This whole process has been cost prohibitive, but I'm not sure what else to do when labs refuse to do the work. A capitalist system is supposed to let me pay people who know what they're doing to do a thing, and they are supposed to want to do the thing because they are being paid to do it. This is the first time I've encountered outright refusal to perform a service. It's frustrating. 

I haven't used a mass spec since college and I didn't set it up, just put samples in it. What I think I need is something like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/276313168623 But I don't know where to get the software or if there's a proprietary card I'd need to interface with it. The last one at an auction that was close by and had the PC system included went for about $3k but I didn't have the money for it, still don't but saving. 

I'm also not sure how best to get some unknown gas into it. I have some gas syringes from an unrelated project but the system I used in college expected liquids. I thought maybe I could disable the auto sampler/injector and just manually inject the gas into the unit if I timed it right, but I'm not sure how much gas would be needed. 

I could try to bubble the gas through a solvent to try to get it detectable within a liquid that would work in an autosampler like the unit I worked with had, but since I don't know what the gas is finding a solvent that would work seems hit or miss. I'm certainly open to any better ideas as to how to get this done better/cheaper if anyone has thoughts.

[Lucid]

Sunlight is kind of a double-edged sword.  My mother loved to hang clothes out on the clothesline to dry because fresh air and sunshine made them smell so much cleaner than the clothes drier did.  We had a humid summer, and I plan to put some things that are smelling a bit mildewy out in the sun for a bit as soon as it's cold enough that I don't think clothes moths are around.

However, as you know, sun will fade the your clothing and bleach your hair, too, so we know it also destroys some compounds.

I have long forgotten the few chemistry courses that I took years ago, so I forget if UV breaks the bonds or catalyzes reactions or what, but take it from organic chemist and perfume expert Luca Turin that light is the greatest enemy of perfume.  If you want your perfume or cologne to last, store it in a dark closet or keep it in the box it comes in.

I believe UV can degrade PVC pipes, too, can't it?