Ten Reasons to Buy an Organic/All Natural Mattress
Let’s face it. An Organic, All Natural mattress generally costs more than your average conventional mattress. Plus, they are harder to find, so is it worth it?
Here are 10 reasons to consider:
Why Buy an All Natural Mattress?
1. Older Mattresses Continue to Off-Gas
I know what you’re thinking…my mattress is 5 years old, so it’s probably done off-gassing. Unfortunately, mattresses continue to emit chemicals throughout their life, so you are not protected if you have an older, conventional mattress.
2. Low Additional Cost over Time
You generally keep a mattress for well over 10 years, so if you spend an extra $500 on a natural mattress, the incremental cost is less than $0.15/day.
3. Creates a Pure, Safe Haven
While you cannot control your office or other environments, you can make your bedroom a pure, safe haven; a natural mattress that doesn’t emit chemicals is a great place to start.
4. Lessen your Burden
Sleeping on a mattress without flame retardants is a simple way to lessen the burden that chemicals place on your body in this modern world.
5. Perfect for Nighttime Repairs
Your body repairs itself at night, so it’s important to be in a pure space while it’s working. Sleeping on a natural mattress provides a healthier environment.
6. Mattresses Made in 2006 or Earlier Contain Flame Retardants Proven Dangerous
If you bought your current mattress in 2005-2006 time-frame or earlier, it may have a form of PBDEs which is a fire-retardant chemical that researchers studied extensively, proved dangerous and withdrew from use in mattresses in 2005.
7. Mattresses Made Since 2006 Contain More Chemical Flame Retardants
If you bought your mattress after 2006, it’s still bad news. In 2006, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) created stricter fire safety regulations. In order to meet the fire safety regulations, mattress manufacturers who use non-wool fibers began to use even larger amounts of fire-retardant chemicals to meet the regulations.
8. Fire Retardant Chemicals are Toxic at Certain Levels – Disagreement Over Safe Levels
Fire-retardant chemicals can include Boric Acid, Melamine, Antimony Trioxide, Decabromodiphenyl Oxide (DBDPO), Formaldehyde, and Vinylidene Chloride (VC).The CPSC determined that these chemicals are toxic at certain levels causing cancer, neurotoxicity and developmental and reproductive problems among others.
At this point, you are probably wondering why toxic levels of chemical fire retardants are allowed in your home products like mattresses.
It’s unclear why the CPSC acted the way they did when they set the “safe” levels.
But, you should know that experts and other government agencies disagree with the “safe” daily and lifetime exposure levels set by the CPSC. An independent study reviewer and other US agencies including the EPA think that “safe” levels should have been set lower.
Unfortunately, you’re stuck with the CPSC levels of acceptable toxins in your mattress.
9. Fire Retardant Chemicals Leach from your Mattress
The CPSC acknowledges these toxic, fire-retardant chemicals leach from your mattress through sheets, and you absorb them by inhaling, ingesting or absorbing through your skin.
According to the 2006 study, you absorb .802 mg Antimony, .081 mg Boric Acid and .073 mg DBDPO every day.
In addition, the study concedes that “the cancer effects [of inhaling Antimony] are cumulative. Every exposure contributes to the overall lifetime risk of developing cancer.”
10. Lax Labeling Requirements
It’s unlikely that you’ll find chemical flame retardants listed on a mattress label.
Why?
Because no labeling requirements exist for chemicals used in mattress production, so you have no way of knowing which toxin you are absorbing or inhaling.
Are you ready to make a change?
You’ve got several options:
1. Buy an organic, all natural mattress made with materials like wool that can pass the flammability tests without using chemical flame retardants. Wool is naturally flame resistant.
2. Buy a conventional mattress without chemical flame retardants. Some mattress manufacturers will take orders for mattresses without chemical flame retardants if you have a note from your doctor.
3. Opt for a mattress topper made with all natural and organic materials. This will allow you to put a clean barrier between you and your conventional mattress.
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Carol Trimmer
