Science / Health

The Stuff of Nightmares: 5 Synthetic Mattress Materials With Adverse Health Effects

Do cancer-causing chemicals keep you up at night? Do the dangers fossil fuels leave you tossing and turning? If so, it’s time to curl up in an environmentally friendly living space and rest easy, knowing that your carbon footprint isn’t squashing delicate ecosystems.

In the era of green living, polluted water sources, melting ice caps, and record-high temperatures are any environmental activist’s worst nightmare, which is why manufacturers have made the switch to eco-friendly materials. Today, environmentally-friendly products have made their debut in household goods, flooring, furniture, paint, and more. However, despite the domino effect of greener living, many people sleep on mattresses filled with toxic materials.

If you are concerned about your health, take a look at the synthetic materials right below your sleeping surface. Upon further investigation, you may unearth an ingredients list that can send shivers down any eco-conscious sleeper’s spine. Fortunately, companies like Essentia make comfortable mattresses from organic materials to keep you and your family safe.

If you’re dreaming of an environmentally friendly dreamscape, consider switching out your mattress, should it contain any of the materials below.

Foam from petroleum

If you have a foam mattress, you might be sleeping atop synthetic materials made from petroleum. Polyurethane foam comes from fossil fuels, and the chemicals used to manufacture it break down into harmful Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

As you sleep on your foam mattress or topper, you inhale VOCs. Over time, those VOCs cause damage to your internal organs and the central nervous system. VOCs also increase your risk of developing cancer.

The dangers of flame-retardants

Manufacturers put flame-retardant chemicals on foam mattresses. While flame-retardants may appear to be a helpful safety measure, the chemicals lingering just below the surface come with a menu of nasty side effects. Researchers found that flame-retardant chemicals have caused several health problems like fertility problems, thyroid dysfunction, and cancer.

In the United States, the federal government does not regulate the manufacturing of flame retardants. Therefore, consumers won’t be counting sheep. Instead, they’ll be counting down the days to thyroid disruption, slipping neurological dysfunction, and a compromised immune system.

Chemicals with VOCs

To attach mattress parts, manufacturers use synthetic adhesives. Usually, these materials are polyester and petroleum-based products.

While manufacturers limit their use of adhesives, humans spend about a third of their lives in bed, meaning that exposure to toxins will add up over time.

Like polyurethane, these adhesives release VOCs, which affect the air you breathe each night. So before you shrug off the carcinogenic effects, consider how those VOCs build up over time and how many harmful chemicals you breathe in during your doctor-recommended eight hours.

Toxic synthetic latex

Another harmful chemical is synthetic latex. Like polyurethane, synthetic latex is a petroleum-based product that releases VOCs. Manufacturers use styrene and butadiene to make latex, which is known to cause damage to the nervous system.

People who sleep on synthetic latex mattresses can develop headaches, fatigue, and depression. VOCs from styrene have also been linked to leukemia and lymphoma, as well.

Waterproof vinyl

Many mattresses, especially those for infants and toddlers, have vinyl tops to make them waterproof and bacteria-resistant. Unfortunately, the chemicals manufacturers use to make vinyl contain phthalates and heavy metals.  Once the vinyl is in place on the mattress, it releases a toxic called dioxin.

These chemicals can harm children as they grow and increase your little one’s risk of developing long-term asthma and allergies. Researchers have connected dioxin to congenital disabilities and cancer, too.

Wrap up

Your mattress materials matter to your health. Rather than continuing to sleep on a mattress full of toxins, you can opt for sustainable swaps and sleep soundly in a chemical-free sleep environment. In your search for eco-friendly bedroom upgrades, aim for organic materials like cotton, wool, and latex.

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