O.K., first of all, do not sleep on the mattress and get it out of your living area as soon as possible.I am not going to tell you that your mattress is toxic or carcinogenic. I simply do not know enough about the chemistry IKEA used to make that mattress. Here is what I do know:Your mattress is almost certainly an open-cell polyurethane foam. That means it is a polymer composed of three components, a polyisocyanate, a chain extender, typically a di-alcohol or a di-amine, and a cross-linker, typically a tri- or tetra-functional alcohol or amine. In addition, there is a blowing agent (to make the foam bubbles) and a catalyst. They may have added other ingredients to make the foam more uniform and reproducible.Let's talk about the ingredients in order: The polyisocyanate is the really worrisome chemical. It is a sensitizer and if there is any unreacted material present, you could easily develop a rash. However, generally these materials are high molecular weight and have essentially zero vapor pressure--so this is not what you are smelling.
However, the polyisocyanate is made from low molecular weight isocyanates and if the pre-polymer is not properly reacted, these isocyanates may be present in your mattress. The only reason I even bring it up is that you describe the mattress foam as "sticky". That may indicate incomplete reaction, either of the polyisocyanate or in the production of the polyisocyanate and in that case you might actually be at risk of contacting some of the unreacted isocyanate. That would be bad. Use gloves when handling the mattress--kitchen rubber gloves will do. On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is lowest total risk, I would give this a 4.The chain extenders are also, quite probably completely reacted, and while a di-alcohol is probably not worrisome, di-amines can also be sensitizers. Again, if you had not described the mattress as "sticky" I would say that the likelihood of you being exposed to these materials is minimal. Even now, the likelihood is actually very small. These are also fairly high molecular weight materials with no appreciable vapor pressure.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I would give this a 1.The cross-linkers are also generally reacted into the polymer matrix. Same considerations as above, except that these tend to be lower molecular weight so may have a higher vapor pressure. On a scale of 1 to 10, this would be a 2.The blowing agent may be carbon dioxide, water, or HFC. Risk from the blowing agent is probably a 1.The rest of the stuff: There are lots of other chemicals added to memory foam during manufacture. has an excellent article: that discusses a variety of additives: http://www.Read Tips, Reviews & Research on the Best Mattress Types/are-memory-foam-mattresses-safe/What I suspect, from your description is that you are smelling either ketones (acetone or methyl ethyl ketone) or methylene chloride. The presence of these materials would also explain the stickiness you are feeling as they are plasticizers for polyurethanes and will make the polymer feel sticky. What I would do: Contact the store and arrange for the immediate return of the mattress.
There is no way this mattress should be outgassing at a detectable level.It is unfortunate but many cheap mattresses have this problem. Especially the mattresses made in China. I’m most certain that Ikea mattresses are made in China and their quality of materials and manufacturing when it comes to mattresses can be quite shoddy. The smell is most likely the cheap foam and fire retardants used. Many cheap made in China mattresses have this odor problem.By the way, $349 for a memory foam mattress is dirt cheap, and I would not take my chances on such a thing. You are better off investing $100-$200 more and get yourself an Otis futon mattress which can also be used on a platform bed.Or if you are looking for something on the cheaper than $400, you can go with a Gold Bond futon mattress. Otis, Gold Bond and Mlily are reputable American based manufactures. Their mattresses are quality and don’t smell toxic. Keep in mind that any new upholstered furnishing such as a mattress or sofa will always have a new factory smell, similar to new car smell.
This is not something to be alarmed about and should go away within a week.When it comes to bedding and mattresses, never purchase a made in China mattress. If the mattress is surprisingly cheap online, you should be weary about the quality.Sofa beds are a different story and China manufactures all different qualities for the budget minded consumer and the quality minded consumer. Reviews of IKEA (& Other Brand) Latex Mattresses? Q: My partner and I are looking for a new mattress and have pretty much narrowed it down to latex, but now the issue is which brand. So many seem to be scams and I'm horrified of spending a bunch of money on a mattress only to have it break down in a few years, or even months. We've tested and been happy with the Ikea Erfjord, but I'm wondering if it will last. Any other information you have regarding latex mattresses in general would be highly appreciated. Do you know of brands that one should be particularly wary of ? Other good deals that will last?
Editor: Please share reviews of IKEA mattresses along with any other recommendations with Angela in the comments below - thanks! • Got a question? Email yours with pic attachments here (those with pics get answered first)One of the biggest complaints by owners of memory foam pillows and mattresses is the unpleasant, and potentially unhealthy chemical smell. Memory foam is manufactured using polyurethane and several other chemicals, so it isn’t surprising that it emits a chemical odor. This “off gassing” of volatile organic compounds is a common and well-documented property of memory foam pillows and mattresses. The fumes are often compared to those experienced in a freshly painted room. If you are experiencing this odor, the good news is you may not have to endure the smell for long. The bad news is that some of the chemicals used in memory foam aren’t entirely benign.Many memory foam mattress owners report that the off gassing period ends after a number of days.(1) Of course there are many factors which influence this including the product, the type of foam, the sensitivity of the person, the room ventilation and more.
Even if the initial odor goes away, it is natural to wonder if there are health issues related to off gassing.Most people do not report any health issues resulting from their memory foam pillow or mattress. However, there are various reports of headaches, nausea, and allergic reactions resulting from the odor produced by memory foam. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you’ll want to avoid sleeping on the foam during the initial off gassing period. You can leave the pillow or mattress in a well-ventilated area for a week or two and see if that helps eliminate or reduce the odor and symptoms. If after several weeks, the issue persists, it is probably time to consider an alternative to memory foam.Many many people use memory foam products without reporting any side effects or related health issues. That said, there are various reports and studies which indicate that memory foam may be somewhat toxic. Reports include carcinogenic chemicals and formaldehyde gas. To manufacture memory foam, chemicals are added to polyurethane to make it more dense and viscous at the same time.
Additional chemicals are required to make the polyurethane flame retardant. One of these, Pentabde (of the polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) family), was used until 2004. Pentabde is now known to be toxic to the liver, thyroid, and nervous system.(2) A study in 2000 specifically found mattress emissions to be toxic to the lungs of labratory mice.The long-term effects of memory foam and its toxicity is not fully understood, but there clearly is some reason for concern. Aproximately one-third of your life is spent in close contact to your sleeping surface, so it is important to consider you and your family’s health when selecting a pillow or mattress.Are you interested in the support and comfort provided by memory foam, but want to avoid that chemical smell? There are several natural pillow options for those looking for a new pillow. Of course, our favorite is our buckwheat hull pillow. Besides being natural and chemical-free, buckwheat pillows are a great alternative to memory foam for a couple of other reasons.