These days, most products are made through chemical processes to increase durability and keep prices low. Synthetic materials are known to emit gasses, which prompts the question, \u201care these products safe?\u201d<\/p>\n
Since we spend a third of our lives asleep, memory foam mattresses are among the products most widely discussed in terms of safety. While memory foam mattresses<\/a> are safe to sleep on, the foam\u2019s components\u00a0can cause harm if a worker is exposed to the chemicals during the manufacturing process.<\/p>\n In this article, we will examine what memory foam is, what materials you should avoid, and how to select a safe memory foam mattress.<\/p>\n Memory foam was first developed<\/a>\u00a0in the mid-60s as a way to absorb shock in NASA\u2019s airplane seats. Manufacturers have since applied the material to shoes, helmets, furniture, and mattresses<\/a>.<\/p>\n All memory foam is processed polyurethane foam, poly-foam for short; however, not all polyurethane foam is memory foam. Memory foam has chemicals added to the foam during manufacturing, which makes it elastic and responsive.<\/p>\n Memory foam mattresses contain both memory foam and polyurethane to build a comfortable and supportive bed. Memory foam mattresses have memory foam in the comfort layers and stable poly-foam in the bottom layer for durability, deterring sagging.<\/p>\n Memory foam is conforming and elastic when a sleeper applies body heat and pressure. As a result, the material relieves pressure points and prevents pain.<\/p>\n Many people also sleep on a memory foam mattress for its hypoallergenic properties \u2014the material\u2019s density naturally keeps out dust mites and other allergens.<\/p>\n Mattress manufacturers use three chemical components to create a memory foam mattress:<\/p>\n Finding out a memory foam mattress\u2019s exact makeup is difficult, as the formulas are guarded trade secrets, and each company\u2019s recipe is different. Laws and voluntary restrictions have phased out the more dangerous ingredients, but you might still find some of them in lower-quality foam mattresses.<\/p>\n All mattresses are required by law to resist an open flame for a certain length of time, and many mattress companies add retardant chemicals to reduce flammability \u2014 not all of these chemicals are the safest.<\/p>\n Fire retardants of concern include:<\/p>\n Many mattress companies now use fire retardants such as kevlar, wool, and rayon with added silica to reduce the risk of cancer and other health problems. Though fiberglass was once common, many memory foam manufacturers are now making mattresses without fiberglass<\/a>.<\/p>\n Off-gassing is the chemical smell some memory foam mattresses have when first opened. The odor comes from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that break down at room temperature.<\/p>\n According to Sleep Like the Dead<\/em>, around 1.5 percent of memory foam mattress owners experience symptoms such as headaches, nausea, sweating, respiratory problems, and irritation in the eyes and throat. These symptoms lessened as the mattress finished off-gassing, which should take three to seven days in a well-ventilated room.<\/p>\n If you want to ensure you\u2019re buying a safe memory foam mattress, look for certifications. To receive these certifications, mattress companies pay a third-party organization to examine their manufacturing process, ensuring no dangerous chemicals are present.<\/p>\n CertiPUR-US\u00ae<\/a>\u00a0ensures foam products\u00a0are made without ozone depleters, PBDEs, TDCPP or TCEP flame retardants, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and phthalates. It also certifies the foam as having low VOCs.<\/p>\n CertiPUR-US\u00ae has a list of certified companies<\/a>\u00a0for your fact-checking convenience.<\/p>\n Oeko-Tex\u00ae is a partnership of 18 research and test institutes in Europe and Japan. These facilities examine textiles and leather products.<\/p>\n GREENGUARD tests the chemical emissions of various indoor household products. GREENGUARD Gold<\/a>\u00a0is the highest grade certification and guarantees the product has low VOCs emission.<\/p>\n GOTS only certifies textiles products that contain a minimum of 70 percent organic fibers. All dyes and chemicals must comply with specific environmental criteria. GOTS also certifies if working conditions meet the standards of the International Labour Organization.<\/p>\n If you want to sleep on a memory foam mattress, there are steps you can take to minimize health risks:<\/p>\nWhat Is Memory Foam?<\/h2>\n
What Goes Into Memory Foam<\/h2>\n
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Potential Ingredients\/Byproducts of Concern<\/h2>\n
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Common Fire Retardants<\/h2>\n
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Off-Gassing<\/h2>\n
Certifications<\/h2>\n
CertiPUR-US\u00ae<\/h3>\n
Oeko-Tex\u00ae<\/h3>\n
GREENGUARD Gold<\/h3>\n
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)<\/h3>\n
Choosing a Safe Memory Foam Mattress<\/h2>\n