Mattress shopping can be exciting but it can also be overwhelming. There are so many options out there, and it’s nearly impossible to tell which one is the best for your sleep needs. Plus, you need to worry about the safety of your mattress. After all, most human beings spend around one-third of their life asleep, so it’s absolutely vital that you know what’s in your mattress. It’s not enough to trust that because something is labeled as “natural” or “eco-friendly” that it’s actually safe for your sleep.
Natural mattresses typically contain fewer synthetic materials than a non-natural mattress, but they still contain some synthetics, and could potentially contain them in unhealthy amounts. Organic mattresses, on the other hand, contain no synthetic materials, which is definitely a better choice if you’re looking to limit harmful chemicals in your mattress. Finally, eco-friendly mattresses are more concerned with how the mattress affects the world rather than how it affects human beings. Some materials that break down easily and are good for the environment are not as good for people, so be sure to do your research when looking at mattresses labeled as “eco-friendly.”
If you’re already feeling overwhelmed, it’s okay. We’ve done the research and created this handy guide to help you avoid potentially dangerous chemicals, find organic mattresses that are good for your health, and explain the nitty-gritty of safe mattress buying.
One term that frequently pops up in discussions of mattresses and chemicals is “off-gassing.” This is the phenomenon that occurs when a mattress and its associated materials release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. These VOCs can include formaldehyde, toluene, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), benzene, trichloroethane, and perfluorocarbons, though each mattress is different and may release different chemicals.
Initial off-gassing can create a strong smell and may even give you a headache or make you feel dizzy at first, but all of these effects should fade within a few days or possibly a week or so. Off-gassing continues throughout the life of the mattress, but it will release very minimal amounts of VOCs after the initial off-gassing. How strong the off-gassing is at first depends largely on the materials the mattress is made with and how the mattress is delivered. Popular bed-in-a-box mattresses typically have much stronger off-gassing because the mattress is rolled up and vacuum sealed, and when it is released, more chemicals are released with it. A mattress that arrives at your house out of a box likely did most of its off-gassing before getting to your house, and therefore will smell less and will release fewer fumes into your home.
Generally, off-gassing has not been found to be harmful to human beings in any lasting way, but research has shown that continual exposure to VOCs could potentially lead to increased risk of cancer, nervous system damage, and liver or kidney damage. Because of this potential risk, some people prefer a mattress with limited off-gassing.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, also known as PBDEs, were used for a long time as chemical flame retardants. Everything from construction materials to furniture padding was made with PBDEs to help protect them from fire hazards. At first, this sounds like a good thing, but PBDEs are actually very dangerous and have been banned in the United States and many other countries. Although new items cannot be produced using PBDEs, there are still plenty of old items in our houses and on the market that still contain this dangerous chemical.
PBDEs used to be included in the foam part of the mattress, and could also sometimes be found in the mattress cover or topper. No newly manufactured mattress should be allowed to contain PBDEs at this point in time, but if you are buying your mattress used, or buying a very old model, be sure to do your research carefully.
The reason PBDEs are so dangerous is that they don’t stay in your mattress. These chemicals are dissolved into other materials, and as a result, they can easily escape said materials and make their way into you and me. Once we absorb PBDEs, they remain in our tissue and they can continue to build up over a lifetime. When this happens, there can be a host of negative health effects. A study published in the Archives of Toxicology found that PBDEs are associated with thyroid, neurodevelopmental, and reproductive issues.
Propylene oxide and TDI (Toluene Diisocyanate) are chemicals used to create polyurethane foam and memory foam, which are popular mattress materials. Unfortunately, they are responsible for a large amount of off-gassing of VOCs, and many people may want to avoid them.
Propylene oxide and TDI are found in polyurethane foam and memory foam, which is present in nearly all mattresses on the market today. Most mattresses now are either entirely memory foam or hybrid mattresses containing memory foam and coils. Even some innerspring mattresses contain foam made of propylene oxide and TDI. If you’re looking to avoid these chemicals, you’ll need to research very carefully.
The reason we suggest avoiding these chemicals, despite their popularity, is due to recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC has announced that both propylene oxide and TDI are associated with increased tumor risk in mice and rats. Although these findings have not yet been replicated in humans, the CDC recommends that we limit our exposure to both chemicals. Since we spend so much time on our mattresses, it is not recommended to use a mattress containing these chemicals.
Toluene is a clear liquid chemical associated with the distinctive smell of paint and paint thinner. It can enter the human body through the air, through water, or even through the soil. Single, low exposure to toluene is unlikely to be harmful, but repeated exposure could be associated with health concerns.
Toluene is used in foams present in most mattresses, just like TDI, except most companies use TDI rather than toluene now. This is because toluene has been found to be even more harmful to people’s health than TDI.
According to the CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, repeated, long-term, heavy exposure to toluene can result in serious effects, like seizures, cognitive impairment, hearing loss, and developmental delays in children or babies born to women exposed to high levels of toluene during pregnancy.
Dimethylformamide (DMF) is a clear chemical with the faint smell of ammonia that is commonly used in chemical manufacturing, acrylic fiber spinning, and more. It has been banned in the EU but is not yet banned in the United States.
DMF is not actually present in mattresses as a finished product, but it is used in the manufacturing process and could be released into the air as a VOC.
According to the CDC, DMF causes the most damage when absorbed through the skin. When this happens, DMF can cause liver damage and preliminary studies show that it may also cause cancer. However, DMF is not absorbed through the skin with a mattress because it is only released into the air as a VOC, but it can also be inhaled. When inhaled in small amounts, it is less likely to cause liver damage, but if you want to be safe, it may be best to look for a mattress without DMF.
Benzene is a chemical commonly used in the creation of plastics, dyes, synthetic fibers, and more. It is one of the most common VOCs typically released from mattresses through off-gassing.
Benzene can be found in polyurethane foams used in many types of mattresses, including memory foam and some hybrids or innerspring mattresses. It is typically released through off-gassing.
The CDC’s guide to benzene says that it causes damage by preventing the cells from working as they are supposed to. If you are exposed to small amounts for a short period of time, this causes short-term dizziness or headaches, but long-term exposure can lead to anemia or immune system dysfunction.
Polyols are chemicals used to create polyurethane foam, which as we’ve mentioned, is a major component of most modern mattresses. Polyols are a family of chemicals and they can be made differently to reduce potential harm. For instance, some polyols are made from vegetable oils but be sure to do your research carefully. In most cases, even mattresses that boast these vegetable oil polyols only use them in small amounts, and the rest are the more dangerous kind.
You can find polyols in any mattress that contains polyurethane foam, which typically includes memory foam mattresses, many hybrid mattresses, and even some innerspring mattresses. The polyols are found in the polyurethane foam, and they play a major role in the release of VOCs.
Typically, those who experience excessive exposure to polyols experience allergic-type reactions. You may notice dizziness, headaches, nausea, and trouble concentrating. Although these effects aren’t as severe as some of the effects caused by other chemicals on this list, we sleep on our mattress every night and having a headache every single day would get old very quickly.
Unfortunately, many mattresses do contain many of these harmful chemicals, so what are you supposed to do? How do you find a mattress that won’t be detrimental to your health? The best strategy is to look for trusted certifications from independent companies that seek to identify safe products for your home, like the ones below.
If you tend to be very sensitive to various chemicals, or if you’ve noticed that you tend to get a headache on days when you’re cooped up in your house, you might be ready to make the switch to a non-toxic mattress. To get you started on your research, we’ve put together some resources on alternative materials and organic mattresses that are better for your health.
