Learn what you need to know about toxic materials in your bedroom.How to Find Toxic Materials in Your BedroomChange the sheets.The Problem: Polyester-cotton bed linens and “no-iron” cotton bed linens are treated with a formaldehyde-based permanent-press finish to keep them wrinkle free. The formaldehyde resin becomes a permanent and irremovable part of the fiber, and it continues to release formaldehyde fumes for the life of the fabric. (Wash and wear diminishes formaldehyde levels, but residues remain as long as the fabric stays wrinkle free.) Formaldehyde exposure can cause headaches, skin rashes, respiratory problems, fatigue, and insomnia. The Solution: Choose sheets made from cotton flannel (it doesn’t wrinkle), untreated 100-percent cotton, or knit cotton jersey. Pure linen sheets are a luxury, but they feel wonderful, especially after many washings. Get rid of foam pillows. The Problem: Pillows labeled “hypoallergenic” may relieve sneezing, but they’re stuffed with polyester and foam, which are made from crude oil.
While these rate relatively low on the toxicity scale, they’re very soft thermoplastics that continuously emit minute plastic vapors as the fiber warms against your body. The Solution: If you’re allergic to feathers, try sleeping on a soft organic wool pillow or a more firm cotton pillow. If you need neck support, choose a natural fiber pillow designed for that purpose. Switch to natural fiber blankets. The Problem: Most inexpensive blankets, comforters, and mattress pads are made from acrylic or polyester, both thermoplastics made from crude oil. Like polyester, acrylic isn’t high on the list of hazardous toxins, but it also continuously gives off plastic vapors. The Solution: Blankets made from natural fibers such as cotton and wool provide more comfort and better air flow. In addition to the classic cotton thermal blankets, cotton is now used to make a soft, almost wool-like “cashmere” blanket. Also consider a wool-filled comforter, which wicks humidity away from the skin, is good at maintaining the optimal skin temperature of 91 degrees, and even calms the sleeper’s heart rate, according to studies at the Polytechnic Institute of Wales.
Treat yourself to a new mattress. The Problem: Most mattresses are made from polyurethane foam plastic (even innerspring mattresses are wrapped with foam), sprayed with chemical fire retardants, and covered with polyester fabric. Long-term exposure to polyurethane foam can cause bronchitis, coughing, and skin and eye problems. Polyurethane foam also releases toluene diisocyanate, which can produce severe lung problems. The Solution: If your mattress is several years old, most of the chemicals have probably outgassed. When it’s time for a new bed, buy a natural mattress or futon made of cotton, wool, or natural latex foam. (They cost about the same as a high-end synthetic mattress and box spring.) Cotton can compact and get hard over time and also tends to collect dust mites. Wool futons are easy to pick up and move outdoors for sun and air, which kills dust mites. The Problem: Bedrooms tend to double as dressing rooms and perhaps even office space; children often sleep, dress, play, and study in their bedrooms.
A pile of books next to the bed or bookshelves in the room may give off toxic inks. Hobby supplies may include toxic adhesives or paints. Clothing fresh from the dry cleaners may give off dangerous perchloroethylene fumes. The Solution: Make a space for your bed that is just for sleeping. If you have a large room, consider dividing it with a screen to make separate areas. Organize your closet so you can put things away behind closed doors. Remove any items that are emitting toxic fumes. Furnish clearly and simply. The Problem: Dressers, tables, and other bedroom furniture may look like wood but actually be made from particleboard. If so, they’re releasing formaldehyde—which can cause insomnia—into your bedroom. Upholstered furniture with stain-resistant coating can also release formaldehyde; most inexpensive pieces are made with the same polyurethane foam and polyester as synthetic mattresses. The Solution: Limit furniture in your bedroom to what is needed and choose pieces made from solid wood.
Buy unfinished solid wood furniture and finish it with nontoxic wood stain, sealer, or oil. Have furniture custom stuffed and covered with natural fiber upholstery. The Problem: Synthetic wall-to-wall carpet is made from a complex blend of as many as 120 chemicals. The Environmental Protection Agency determined that synthetic carpet is a major contributor to indoor air pollution after a 1988 incident at the agency’s own offices, in which employees reported symptoms associated with exposure to their new carpeting. The Solution: Plain hardwood floors are the most healthful choice for the bedroom because they’re easy to clean and don’t harbor dust. You can add small, natural fiber area rugs, if you like. The Problem: Polyester fabric window coverings and vinyl window shades and blinds become even more of a problem when the sun shines through the window, warming the plastics and accelerating the outgassing process. The Solution: Choose natural fiber curtains, drapes, or blinds.
Cotton, linen, and silk curtains are now sold in most chain home décor shops. Choose wood or metal curtain rods. Wood blinds and shutters are also good options. Shopping for the safe bedroom Natural bedroom products abound in popular retail stores. If you can’t find what you’re looking for at the shops you usually frequent, you can find it on the Internet. For sources of healthy bedroom products, see Debra Lynn Dadd's Favorite Links.Mattress News Published on December 12th, 2013 | by Mattress Journal Looking for healthier mattress options?Check out plant-based memory foam from Amerisleep or organic latex beds from Astrabeds, two brands that consistently earn high ratings in reviews and our research.A class action suit has been filed in California courts alleging that Tempurpedic’s memory foam mattresses contain harmful VOCs.The lead plaintiff in the case, Michael Dodson, claims that Tempurpedic mattresses and pillows release volatile organic compounds which can result in allergic reactions as well as possible long-term complications, and that the company is aware of issues.
They believe the company has minimized the problem when advertising their products by stating that the odors will dissipate and that products are VOC-free, when formaldehyde and other odors may continue to be released for months.The class lawsuit brought against Tempur-pedic is represented by attorney Allen Stewart of Dallas, Texas, and seeks many forms of recourse including an injunction, constructive trust, and restitution. It claims that Tempurpedic violated business laws within the State of California, where the suit was filed.One of the primary reasons for the suit states that Tempurpedic not only downplayed VOCs in their memory foam mattresses and pillows but also refers to the fact that they failed to warn customers of a potential link between reactions and allergies with previous customers and their products.Another key issue brought by the plaintiff is that Tempurpedic and their distributor network informs customers that the odors emitted from their memory foam should only last a few days and is harmless.
The class action suit claims that the company has been aware of problems reported by some consumers like allergic reactions attributed to the odors or side effects like headaches since at least 2007, and has failed to notify consumers of these potential problems.Their other claim is that Tempurpedic’s mattresses emit formaldehyde, a strong VOC and known carcinogen, even though they claim their products are ‘allergen-resistant’ (though this claim likely refers to dust mites rather than chemical sensitivities). The claim on the attorney’s website states that formaldehyde has been identified in laboratory testing of Tempurpedic products.Tempurpedic has not officially released a public response yet, but the lawsuit (or perhaps recent FTC actions) already appears to have had some effect on marketing, as the company’s website removed a page in the last few months which had the claims mentioned in the lawsuit (“free of harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) such as formaldehyde and CFC (chlorofluorocarbon)—harsh chemicals that can trigger allergies and asthma.”)
, and now makes no official mention of the issue. They had also removed all reviews from their website for several months (since July 2013), though many appear to have been restored in the last few weeks.VOC stands for volatile organic compounds which can be released from products created from unstable organic chemicals or compounds, often referring to petroleum or byproducts thereof, including the polyurethane and adhesives used in traditional memory foam. More than 60 compounds have been identified which can cause allergic reactions and other health concerns, with 18 of those requiring a warning label. Formaldehyde is just one of the well-known VOCs, and its concentration is easier to measure than many of the others.According to the EPA website http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html, VOCs are commonly found in paint, organic solvents, furniture, foams and degreasing agents among other commonly used products. The concentration is often higher indoors, and can lead to many health effects, including lung irritation, nerve damage, kidney damage, endocrine disruption and several are also considered to be potential carcinogens.
Although Tempur-pedic is currently being sued over VOCs, they are not the only company to run afoul of problems related to the release of volatile organic compounds and advertising claims. EcoBaby Organics Inc., Essentia Natural Memory Foam Company Inc., and Relief-Mart Inc. were recently asked by the FTC to stop advertising that their products are VOC-free until proven to be so. Other companies including Target, Wal-Mart and Babies R Us were also sued earlier this year in California due to undisclosed Tris fire retardants in baby mattresses.As the organic and natural movements continue gaining popularity and awareness, more and more consumers are becoming concerned about toxic or potentially harmful products. VOCs have been a primary target in the U.S. and Europe, since several of them have the potential to interfere with endocrine systems, hormones, and other bodily functions. Furniture items are of particular concern since their outgassing can affect indoor air quality, and since people are in close proximity to their mattresses for several hours each day.
Memory foam mattresses have taken the bedding industry by storm and continue growing in sales, yet these recent actions have many consumers wondering whether it is safe to go to bed at night. The answer is complex, primarily depending on the type of memory foam mattress you own or choose to buy, as well as your personal sensitivity. Manufacturers are also not required to disclose ingredients at this time, and chemical claims are largely on honor system until challenged.According to SleepLikeTheDead, a consumer review analysis website, nearly 18% of Tempur-pedic owners have complained of issues with off-gassing and odors. This does represent a higher percentage than memory foam mattresses as a whole, which usually average closer to 15%, and is significantly higher than some other brands of which reviewers may complain of odor in as few as 3-5% of reviews. (For more information, check out Memory Foam Mattress Guide’s helpful comparison article on memory foam and offgassing.)Here are a few key points to consider if you are concerned about memory foam safety:Traditional memory foam – This is the original petroleum-based memory foam, typically most associated with the release of VOCs.
About 15% of owners complain of strong odor.Plant-based memory foam – This type of material replaces a portion of the petroleum-based ingredients with plant-based ingredients, reducing synthetic chemicals and typically resulting in less odorous products. About 3-8% of owners complain of odors.Density – Higher density beds have more polyurethane polymer and thus greater propensity to off-gas than low density foams.Adhesives – Some of the harshest VOCs can be found in the adhesives used to assemble the memory foam beds. Water-based and green options exist, and may help reduce VOC levels in end products.Flame Retardants – Flame retardant chemicals like PBDEs and Tris can outgas and cause reactions or negative side effects. Non-chemical fabric barriers (usually made of silica and other fibers) may be ideal for preserving safety without adding more chemicals.Manufacturing Process – Most foam manufacturers use types of blowing agents to develop foam structures, which can contribute to chemicals in end products and pollution.
A small number use vacuum systems (variable pressure foaming) to create their foams which reduce the chemical profiles.According to SleepLikeTheDead, only about 1.5% of memory foam mattress owners experience side effects related to odor that are significant enough to cause them to return their mattress.Although almost every manufactured product, even spring mattresses, will release a new odor, knowing what the odor actually consists of can be important for peace of mind and health. Thoroughly research products before buying, and check reviews to see if a significant proportion of people mention side effects. Look for recognized industry safety certifications, and ensure that the retailer can answer your questions about foams, fire retardants and adhesives. When you do choose a new mattress, allow it air out in a separate room or garage for a few days if you are sensitive to smells just to be sure, or even consider buying a pillow from the brand first to test your reaction. But, know that only a very small percentage of people will experience significant side effects, while memory foam as whole remains the highest-rated mattress category for overall satisfaction.