Are you Sleeping on a Toxic Mattress?



Posted: Thursday, October 25, 2007

by Jason Wright
Essentia

Many concerns have been raised ever since back and muscle pains, allergies and toxicity have been traced back to the sleeping area or bedroom.

The truth is mattress manufactures pay little attention to the materials they use. Its all about catch phrases and price points. Providing the best product is secondary. Case in point; a pocket coil system costs just $13.

Mattress Glues

Mattress companies use glues freely when layering the mattress together. Adhesives or glues are used to bind the layers of the mattress together to produce a firm and sturdy whole. Though adhesives help in keeping the mattress components together, some have been found to consist of carcinogenic substances such as benzene, methylene chloride, and formaldehyde. In fact, research has shown that mattresses that employ adhesives and glues as binding support emit toxic fumes in the first 2-3 years of use and may potentially cause cancer.

No tests have been done on fumes inhaled from a mattress but these fumes are there and we are inhaling them. We shouldnt need a study to acknowledge and address the issue.

Mattress Fire Retardants

Toxic substances in mattresses could also come from the fire-retardant component of the mattress. Some brands use generic fire retardants that have been found to consist of potentially inhalable carcinogenic agents such as antimony and boric acid. Antimony, is said to produce similar ill-effects as arsenic while boric acid is generally used in most pest or cockroach sprays. These toxic substances are not only allegedly inhaled but may by absorbed by the skin as well.

The fire retardant issues has been covered in the media but lawmakers have passed a U.S. wide law requiring all mattresses to pass two foot wide blowtorch open flame for 70 seconds.

Choosing a Non-Toxic Mattress Brand

Most big brands youll have to keep away from. Their products are increasingly made with poor quality components and toxic materials. These companies care about selling you, not making you a happy and healthy customer.

There are many great boutique mattress companies offering 20+ year warranties who want your business. Many sell direct to customers via their online stores. Local stores rarely hold these products because the profit margins are small. Big brand name companies buy floor space and offer huge incentives to mattress stores and salesman.

Bottom line Educate yourself first then speak to companies directly. Dont rely on the salesman at the store to look out for your long term health.

Jason Wright is a health and sleep enthusiast. A website marketer by trade he decided to work with Essentia, a Canadian health oriented mattress manufacturer. You can read more about Essentia in their Mattress Blog.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Maxine Lehl
from Wilsonville, Oregon 2 years 277 days ago.
I recently purchased Simmons Beautyrest mattress that had a foul musky smell.  Very bad.  After eleven days, it was replaced with a Stearns Foster mattress (for more money). That one again had a musky cchemical smell. I was told by Sleep Country that I could not exchange it again and that my nose was too sensitive.
 
For over a month, I have to strip my bed every morning, put spacers between the mattress and box spring, open the windows and turn on the ceiling fan.  I can still detect the odor - even with walking into the room.What a chore!
 
This cannot be healthy.  I am a 76 year old woman expecting to have a nice bed  lasting a long time. 
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