IS YOUR MATTRESS TOXIC? We’ve all heard the statistic that we spend approximately 1/3 of our lives asleep. It makes sense, of course. We sleep on average, 8 hours per night (or 1/3 of each day). In some phases of life, especially towards the beginning and the end, we sleep 12 hours or more per day. In other phases, often as teens or young parents, we sleep less — perhaps only 5 – 6 hours per night. It all balances out over time to roughly that 1/3 number we keep hearing. If we spend 1/3 of our lives doing one activity, every single day…shouldn’t we make sure it’s safe? Our sleep is the time when our bodies are renewing and recharging. They naturally detoxify and repair while we rest. The space where we sleep, and the surface we sleep on, can help or hinder that. Do you know what’s in your mattress? Because it can make a huge difference in your sleep. What’s In Most Mattresses The average mattress is built of either metal support coils or some type of foam, covered with cotton or polyester. Cotton is a very heavily sprayed crop, so this poses a minor health issue. There are other materials, however, that can pose a much greater health issue, including the law-required flame retardants…. Let’s look at the anatomy of a typical mattress. Foam Padding A lot of mattresses use metal coils covered with polyurethane foam for softness and support. Unfortunately, polyurethane itself is dangerous. In one study, a polyurethane mattress covered in vinyl actually reduced air flow and caused respiratory irritation! (Organic mattresses improved breathing.) Another study shows that all mattresses, new and old, off-gas VOCs (Volatile Organic Chemicals) which may be dangerous. Polyurethane was the most dangerous, although polyester wasn’t very good either. Polyurethane is also dangerous because it is extremely flammable, and it can cause a “flashpoint” reaction, which basically means that once it catches on fire, it will help everything else in the immediate vicinity catch on fire, too. That’s why it’s usually treated with flame-retardant chemicals. Finally, polyurethane can also absorb “protein” (think urine, feces, vomit) and lead to significant bacterial growth, especially staph. This can make babies sick or even lead to a higher risk of SIDS. Using a waterproof covering decreased this risk. (Another source) Polyurethane is cheap, so it is the most common padding used in mattresses. If you have a mattress purchased from basically any major retailer, it is probably made of polyurethane. This issue won’t go away over time, either. As polyurethane breaks down due to use, it continues to release harmful chemicals into the air. Older mattresses are just as toxic as new ones (and maybe more so because of bacterial growth). Should a polyurethane mattress get exposed to heat or flame, it may not catch fire, but it will release toxic smoke — which is the #1 cause of fire-related deaths anyway. Memory Foam: If your mattress isn’t regular polyurethane, it might be memory foam. Unfortunately, this is worse. Memory foam is just polyurethane with additional chemicals. Two of these chemicals are benzene and naphthalene, which are in some formulations. (The actual chemicals used vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and are considered trade secrets, so we don’t know exactly which ones are in which mattresses.) These have been linked to symptoms as simple as headaches and nausea, and as complex as autoimmune disorders and cancer. It’s considered possibly the most toxic mattress out there, unfortunately. The pillows aren’t any better. (I have one, sigh.) Latex “Foam”: Natural latex mattresses are considered safe, but there are sometimes latex “blends” or synthetic latex mattresses that may have some of the same issues as the foam mattresses do. Make sure you find out exactly what “latex” means if you’re buying this option, and skip any that aren’t truly natural. Adhesives Formaldehyde is one of the adhesives that is used to hold mattresses together (technically, it’s melamine resin, but formaldehyde is one of the components). Formaldehyde is a carcinogen, meaning it’s known to cause cancer. Flame Retardants Finally, as if the actual toxic ingredients used to make the mattress weren’t enough, all mattresses are treated with flame retardant chemicals. (They have to be — remember how flammable polyurethane is?) Of course, the standards are actually pretty ridiculous. Mattresses have to be able to withstand 30 minutes of direct heat without catching fire. Who is going to apply that much direct heat while they are sleeping in their bed? Or have the heat come from somewhere else and not notice for that long?! The details of the tests that companies must perform and standards they must meet can be found here. These are new, implemented as of July 1, 2007. Manufacturers are not required to disclose whether or not they use flame retardant-chemicals, which ones they use, or how much they use. Many will deny using them at all! However, studies show that these chemicals are found when the foam is tested in labs, and it’s even found in household dust. The use of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) has been restricted in recent years, but has been replaced with organophosphates (pesticides used on crops). These can contain bromine, chlorine, and other seriously poisonous elements. Experts have begun to recommend restricting the use of these chemicals. One study showed that when skin is exposed to these chemicals, they are absorbed (the chemical tris-BP has been linked to cancer and sterility). A very recent study showed that these brominated flame retardants may be linked to diabetes, developmental disorders, cancer, infertility, and thyroid disorders. Another study found that these chemicals are hormone disruptors in men. What Do I Do Now?! Honestly, when I began research for this post, this isn’t what I expected to find. I knew that flame retardants were toxic. I did not know that the actual materials used to make the mattresses were toxic, too. How disgusting is it that polyurethane is that bad?! I want to go home and throw out all our mattresses (at least two of which are kind of old anyway) in favor of higher quality, safe mattresses. I’m not sure we actually could afford to do that right now, but I think it’s becoming a priority for us. This is just not something we can put up with when we do spend so much time sleeping. Our health is too important to sleep on toxic mattresses. And it’s worse because unlike, say, paint — your face and body are in very close contact with a mattress, meaning that you get exposed to a much higher dose of chemicals than you otherwise would. That’s all scary. So what now? The Natural Mattress Difference There are actually a number of organic and natural mattresses on the market. Not all of them are safe. Let’s take a closer look at one company, Natures Embrace, and what makes them different. Natures Embrace stands out as a family-owned business that makes 100% natural mattresses. They make all their mattresses themselves, and ship directly to their customers all over the country. Their mattresses are made of natural latex (remember we talked about how important it is to have natural latex above?) with no synthetics anywhere. Their glue is water-based, and does not contain harmful chemicals. Let’s see how it compares to polyurethane on all the main points above. Flame Retardant/Off-Gassing: Latex mattresses do not require flame retardant chemicals because they aren’t as flammable as polyurethane. They also don’t contain any other chemicals, as they are only natural latex. (And a natural wool cover to function as a non-chemical flame retardant.) Anti-Microbial Latex is a naturally anti-microbial substance, which means it won’t absorb sweat, urine, etc. and promote bacterial growth. In fact, it helps to stop this from happening! This can extend the life of your mattress because there isn’t the risk of bacteria or mold producing toxins in it. (This is confirmed by this study, and this one.) Latex absolutely beats polyurethane on these fronts! But there are more benefits…. No Motion Transfer: These mattresses are made with 100% latex, they don’t contain any metal springs. Therefore, they don’t allow much motion transfer, which means your sleeping partner won’t disturb you (or you won’t disturb them). That’s really nice for anyone who has a restless partner, who co-sleeps with a twitchy toddler, or who has different sleeping schedules (my husband usually gets up two hours before me, for example). Supportive: Latex mattresses mold gently to your body and are supportive. I haven’t actually tried one yet, but I’ve heard only positive things about their comfort. They also don’t hold onto heat the way that synthetic materials do, so they’re more comfortable that way as well. (I’ve heard horrible things about memory foam and heat — from mattress salesmen!!) Durable: Latex doesn’t break down the way cheap foams do, which means it lasts longer. Most mattresses are supposed to be replaced about every 8 – 10 years. Natures Embrace actually offers a 25-year warranty! They’re made with quality organic cotton and wool covers, too. Also, I’ve heard that some people who allergic to latex do not react to latex mattresses because they have a cover on them. That’s something pretty neat to consider. How Can I Afford a Good Mattress? I understand — I don’t have lots of $$$ either to run out and buy all new natural mattresses for my family. I wish I did; I’d do it tomorrow! But we do have to be realistic on budget. An average twin mattress (low end) is going to cost $200 – $400 (bump that on up to $400 – $600 for a set that includes a box spring). A king mattress might cost anywhere from $800 (lower end) to over $3000 (high-end memory foam). That’s what you’re looking at spending on any new mattress. Natures Embrace has twin options starting at $700 (for the mattress-and-box-spring set; it’s $500 for the mattress alone). A low-end king is $1500. Of course, “low end” at Natures Embrace is mid-grade anywhere else, if not somewhat ‘upper’ — so, the price is pretty comparable. These are inner-spring, latex-free mattresses. The latex-only mattress are much more expensive — $1200 for twin and over $3500 for king. I would recommend going with the lower-end option if budget is an issue for you. $500 for a quality, organic twin or $1500 for a quality king is not a ton, and it’s in the middle of the range you’d pay for a conventional mattress. A quality mattress is not going to be a cheap purchase, and probably not an easy one, either. It’s something I want to save up for, and hopefully purchase by the end of the year. It can’t be priority #1 for us, but I’d say it’s up there. Do you deserve a Pure Natural Mattress?
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 19:32:13 +0000
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