Chemicals In Mattresses

Flame retardant chemicals linked to cancer hormone disruption and adverse effects on the immune system.

Chemicals in mattresses.

This includes polyurethane foam that can emit volatile organic compounds or vocs harmful chemicals that can cause respiratory irritation or other health problems. For a mattress to qualify for the usda organic seal it needs at least 95 percent certified organic materials and to be processed without potentially harmful chemicals says charlotte. Most mattresses on the market are full of chemicals that can pollute your bedroom air and harm your body. For instance wool is able to act as a natural flame retardant but this is more expensive and time consuming to produce and thus not commonly used.

Mattress companies add these chemical flame retardants because it is an inexpensive way to meet federal flammability standards. Mattresses are known to release minute amounts of gaseous chemicals called volatile organic compounds vocs. There are alternatives to chemical flame retardants. Other chemicals frequently found in memory foam and other synthetic mattresses include formaldehyde benzene and napthalene.

These chemicals are released from the mattress material through use by a process called off gassing. And pvc or vinyl. Your mattress could contain a variety of different materials that off gas and some of those vapors carry significant risks to your long term health. Memory foam mattresses are made with polyurethane.