Reports of Health Problems Linked to Chemicals in New Mattresses
While bed mattresses were previously made of untreated natural materials, the majority of mattresses today are made using a variety of petroleum based chemicals, foams, plastics and controversial flame retardants.
Research and personal accounts suggest people can in fact become ill by repeated and continuous exposure to the low level of chemicals continuously emitted during the sleep process. The situation is dramatically compounded by the fact that sleeping on a bed (or chemically manufactured pillow) places the individual in extremely close proximity to the chemical source (inches compared to feet for most other chemical exposures). This direct contact means that concentrations of chemicals are many, many times higher than they would be if the source was at a greater distance, and thereby becoming less harmful because of dilution.
Research is now available showing that chemicals used in bed manufacturing are in fact evaporating and entering into the air. Some of these are documented carcinogenic and mutagenic compounds. The next important step is to make public any personal accounts of illnesses developing after mattress use. Common petroleum based chemicals have been clearly shown to have the ability to weaken or damage the immune and nervous system. Autoimmune disorders have also been linked with exposure to petroleum-based chemicals and have been found to be the underlying etiology of many common health problems today (soft tissue damage, arthritis, etc). If you have experience deterioration in health after purchasing a new mattress or pillow – please tell your story below. We are especially interested in hearing from people who experience dramatic health improvement after getting rid of their new mattress.