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.Memory foam is not breathable and this can result in a hot and sweaty pillow.
The shape and particulate nature of buckwhat hulls leaves a lot of air space in your pillow between all of the hulls. This airspace allows warm moist air to escape, leaving your pillow cool and dry.While a memory foam pillow conforms to the shape of your head, the overall shape and thickness of the pillow is fixed, making the pillow less adaptable to your sleeping position. The fill in a stuffed pillow can be shifted and adjusted for a wider variety of shapes and sizes.If you’ve decided against a memory foam pillow and a buckwheat pillow isn’t right for you, other natural alternatives to memory foam include pillows filled with down, cotton, wool, latex, kapok or millet hulls.Dear Pablo: How bad is memory foam for the planet and human health?"Memory foam," also known by its technical name "visco-elastic polyurethane foam" is an expanded polyurethane with additional chemicals to enhance its elasticity and viscosity. As with many other plastics, polyurethane is made from chemicals that you wouldn't want to have for breakfast but it does become chemically inert when fully reacted.
However, this does not mean that memory foam mattresses, mattress pads, and pillows are without environmental and health concerns.The Impact Of Chemical Additives In Memory FoamFederal standards on the flammability of mattresses (16 CFR Part 1633, Standard for the Flammability (Open Flame) of Mattress Sets; Final Rule) require memory foam mattresses to be made resistant to flame which is achieved through the addition of flame retardant chemicals. One popular flame retardant chemical is PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) which has been found to bio-accumulate in fat tissue, blood, breast milk and wild peregrine falcons. It has also been found to cause hyperactivity in mice that were exposed during brain development. The European Union has banned PBDE.The chemical additives to the polyurethane are said to give off a distinct chemical odor that lessens after adequate ventilation. It can continue to irritate people sensitive to chemicals or odors. These odors, which are similar to those of freshly painted walls, are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) off-gassing from the memory foam.
Polyurethane mattresses have been proven to be pulmonary irritants in laboratory mice.When It Goes Up In FlamesDespite its added flame retardants, memory foam will still burn given the right temperatures. As it approaches 500°F it emits decomposition products including isocynates and hydrogen cyanide. Of course the gasses from other plastics and plastic additives in your house will probably kill you before the flames reach your memory foam mattress but anything gasses that can kill you in a house fire are certainly not good to release into the atmosphere.Alternatives To Memory FoamThe growth in the environmentally conscious consumer has expanded the availability of more sustainable bedding options. Companies are now selling mattresses made with organic cotton and/or wool. If you are looking for foam you also have the option of a natural latex foam mattress. Natural latex is a renewable resource that comes from the rubber tree. Unlike urethane, it is biodegradable. If you do get a memory foam mattress or have one already please remember not to let small children sleep in it.