Do children's foam play mats release unsafe volatile chemicals?

What's actually in it

Foam play mats, often sold as interlocking puzzle tiles, are made from ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) or polyethylene foam. During manufacturing, chemicals are added as blowing agents, colorants, plasticizers, and flame retardants. Many of these additives are volatile, meaning they evaporate from the mat into the air your child breathes.

Babies and toddlers sit, crawl, and sleep on these mats. Their faces are inches from the surface, so they breathe in the highest concentration of off-gassed chemicals.

What the research says

A 2025 study in Ecotoxicol Environ Saf used non-targeted screening to identify every volatile compound released by children's play mats. The analysis found dozens of different chemicals off-gassing from the mats, including some that are known irritants and suspected toxicants.

Many of the detected compounds had no safety data available. The researchers developed a risk prioritization framework and flagged several chemicals as high-priority concerns. Some of these are linked to respiratory irritation, endocrine disruption, and nervous system effects.

New mats off-gas the most. Letting a new play mat air out in a well-ventilated area for several days before use can reduce the initial burst of chemicals. Choosing mats made from natural rubber or certified low-VOC materials is a safer long-term option.