Chemicals in Mattresses

This is a very in-depth article of some 4,000 words. If you’d like to read specific sections, there are links here to jump to an area of interest. This article uses the term "mattress" a lot; however, this product is easily interchangeable with bedding, sofas and clothing. Really, any textile item. The general theme is very much the same across all textile goods.

 

Today’s consumer is conducting far more research than ever before. The increased demand for safe/natural/healthy products has shaped many different industries. When performing this research, it is often difficult to separate accurate information from misinformation. Our goal with this article is not only to shine a light on this issue, but also to explain why we specialize in and focus on offering natural home goods.

Mattress & Sleep Company have sold natural mattresses and bedding ever since we started in 2006. Our sales volume in natural bedroom products is among the highest in Canada. We believe we have a responsibility to promote natural home furnishings accurately and for the right reasons.

While we believe modern society is likely overexposed to potentially dangerous chemicals, this issue is often blown out of proportion. Many individuals and organizations claim standard mattresses are so toxic that people buy natural mattresses and bedding simply out of fear they will get sick from sleeping on a standard mattress.

Although some people are more sensitive to specific chemicals than others, and we believe this is a genuine concern, this article is for the concerned, educated consumer trying to make sense of the issues around chemicals in mattresses and furniture. This approach is a balanced perspective for general education. Those with multiple chemical sensitivities or similar conditions should, of course, lean heavier on qualified health practitioners for advice.

Before we jump into mattresses in particular, it is very important that this article is read with the following facts taken into consideration:

1. Everything is a chemical. Marketing a product as 'chemical-free', in a scientific sense, means it doesn't exist. We are made of chemicals; everything made of atoms is a chemical. Water is a chemical (two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom).
2. Everything has a chemical name. Many popular blogs are recirculating the idea that if you cannot pronounce something, avoid it; the chemical name of water is dihydrogen monoxide.
3. The toxicity of any specific chemical depends on dosage. The dose determines a substance's toxicity. So while it is true that a toxic dose of, say, cyanide is a small amount compared to, say, a toxic dose of water, the dosage or the amount of exposure to any chemical is what determines the safety or danger involved. More Information
4. Everything off-gases. The constituents of these materials determine the off-gassing, and the amount of these chemicals determines whether the off-gassing is potentially harmful.
5. Odours come from off-gassing chemicals our noses can detect. Many naturally occurring materials produce an offensive odour, much like many synthetic materials. A chemical's smell is not related to its danger; some very dangerous chemicals are also odourless to humans.
6. The terms 'natural' and 'organic' are misleading in marketing. In the strictest scientific sense, organic chemistry involves all chemicals containing carbon; this technically includes chemicals refined from crude oil. Crude oil is made of dead organisms, and all life on the planet is carbon-based. We do feel there are specific reasons the terms 'natural' or 'synthetic' have a place and can be used without being misleading; we will get into this later. The notion that something can only be deemed safe if it is organic is also very misleading. Water is non-organic; it contains no carbon.
7. There are legitimate performance reasons for choosing a mattress made of natural materials. These reasons are scientifically sound in principle. Once we shift the focus from fear-mongering to function and a better night's sleep, the reasons to buy a mattress made from natural materials become more compelling, even for those who aren't worried about exposure to specific chemicals.
8. It is scientifically false to make a marketing claim of 'VOC Free'. There is no such thing as a 100% accurate and precise measurement for the existence of all VOCs. Labs typically perform these tests and report VOC content in PPM (parts per million) or PPB (parts per billion). A material's detection limit may be, for instance, 200 ppm, meaning that if the VOC is present at less than this amount, the machine cannot detect it accurately. This would be listed as 'below detection limit', which is quite different from saying there is nothing present at all.

What are VOC’s and are they a cause for Concern?

VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and VVOCs (very volatile organic compounds) are chemicals that typically have very low boiling points and tend to evaporate into the air much more easily than other organic compounds. For example, formaldehyde typically has a very low boiling point of -19 degrees centigrade. This creates vapour pressure in the finished product, so formaldehyde readily evaporates into the air.

There is legitimate cause for concern about the endemic use of many chemicals. One of the most common VOCs used in a variety of consumer goods is formaldehyde. It is used in the production of many paints, adhesives, and polyurethane foams and is also sometimes used as a fire retardant for textile goods, including mattresses and sofas.

Formaldehyde toxicity has been thoroughly studied and is well understood. Formaldehyde is also found in many things in nature, including foods such as apples. We even produce formaldehyde in our own bodies. For this reason, we can also remove excess formaldehyde from our bodies, but only so quickly. Again, dosage determines toxicity. Thus, while small amounts of formaldehyde — amounts similar to what is naturally present in our own bodies are harmless, and while there are some regulations to avoid the overuse of this chemical, it is not hard to picture the following scenario:

A family has moved into a new home. Fresh paint, new carpet, new carpet underlay, MDF kitchen cabinet interiors, baseboards and trim, a new chair in the corner, and a new mattress. These are all emitting some formaldehyde. In a relatively enclosed space like a bedroom, the concentration of this chemical may be higher than it would be outdoors. In this scenario, the formaldehyde may pose a health risk. Again, the concern isn't any one specific chemical; it is the widespread use of certain chemicals that can cause harmful effects if we are overexposed.

Particulates in the air — another concern?

Imagine we're in the same home mentioned above, but now 15 years later. The various culprits have off-gassed a great deal of formaldehyde and many other chemical compounds. After enough time, the risk of exposure may no longer be a factor.

However, the real concern with very old materials is that microparticles of the offending materials can accumulate in living spaces over time, and those spaces may not always be kept clean. Areas such as our carpets or HVAC system are prime places for these microparticles to accumulate. Inhaling any particulates can be dangerous to our lungs. This isn't a problem exclusive to synthetic chemicals. The size of any particle can determine how much damage it can do to your lungs. For instance, wood dust can be very dangerous to inhale.

For crawling toddlers and pets, these airborne particulates can be a concern. These are real indoor air quality issues we should all be aware of and act on accordingly.

If you're concerned about your home's overall indoor air quality, replacing furnace filters frequently is important. Regular cleaning and dust removal also help, as does regularly laundering bedding and other fabrics in the home that can accumulate dust. For those who want to take things a step further, a high-quality air purifier with medical-grade HEPA filters (to remove particulates) and activated carbon filters (to react with and store VOCs and VVOCs) can significantly improve a home's air quality.

Organic Certificates vs. Safety Certificates:

The chemical content of anything you bring into your home ultimately determines that item's safety. As we discussed above, there are legitimate concerns about the chemicals used in mattresses, given how much of a day we spend sleeping. Many of our customers visit us specifically seeking out 'organic' mattresses. This is wonderful, as an organic mattress likely offers the cleanest possible choice and, generally speaking, organic mattresses are high-performance, durable options.

What is an organic mattress? The most common are made from 100% naturally sourced foam and natural rubber, wrapped in organic cotton and wool quilted covers. Wool is naturally fire retardant and can pass not only the simple cigarette-burn test we have in Canada for upholstered furniture, but also the more intense open-flame test required under California's 16 CFR 1633 regulation. There are many ways to meet fire safety codes for upholstered furniture, but our research shows the best method uses quilted natural wool fibres to meet 16 CFR 1633 requirements without synthetic chemical flame retardants.

The most credible certificates available for the mattress industry are GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard). GOTS certification typically covers the cotton and wool used in the outer quilting of mattresses, and GOLS certification covers the natural latex foam used inside the mattress.

Organic certification largely relates to raw-material traceability, restrictions on agricultural practices, and, to some extent, social obligations to workers. In terms of chemical content, organic certificates vary greatly; we encourage you to read these links to see what we mean about their vagueness.

GOTS Standard

GOLS Standard

A large part of these organic certificates is traceability, ensuring that production across the entire chain to the finished product meets certain criteria. The criteria, although generally robust, are also arbitrary because the definition of the word organic is rather ambiguous. This means multiple processors and manufacturers often need to apply for and pay for certification to legally use a specific organic certificate in marketing the product.

For instance, if the growers of a GOTS-certified organic cotton have a certificate, and the weavers of the fabric have a GOTS certificate, but the mattress factory that produces the finished product does not, then technically, we as a retailer are not allowed to use the label on our website. These steps come with a cost. Given that no lab testing (for synthetic chemicals) is done at each step, it is difficult to say whether the cost of these certificates is worthwhile.

The consumer ends up paying for all of these certificates, and we keep this in mind when selecting the products we offer in our stores. If we feel a step in the process would add a burdensome markup for our customer, we skip it.

GOTS and GOLS do not certify a raw material as organic. It wouldn’t be appropriate to refer to cotton as "GOTS certified organic cotton," as this isn't possible. You would need an organization such as the USDA to issue an organic certificate.

The links here show which synthetic chemicals are permissible in organic production. Yes, organic raw materials contain synthetic chemicals. We do believe the USDA criterion is excellent; we merely wish to counter the common belief that "organic is free of synthetics" – this is simply not true.

Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production

Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic livestock production

Simply put, an organic mattress, sofa, or bedding item with certification from the agricultural level to the finished product will have a (sometimes rather significant) cost premium over what could, in theory, be an identically made product with identical raw materials that has no organic certification.

Appropriate raw materials also come with simple, real-world costs. For example, natural rubber foam costs more than polyurethane foam. Natural rubber has far higher density and is considerably more elastic than polyurethane.

Natural rubber also has potential drawbacks. Because natural rubber is so dense, a typical adult sleeper would need a reasonably thick natural rubber mattress to provide adequate comfort. While 6" natural latex mattresses exist, most sleepers of 150 lbs or more will find they require an 8" or 10" latex mattress to be truly happy sleeping on this material long term.

We find many of our customers are seeking a more reasonably priced alternative to certified organic. A certified safe mattress is the solution. A small group of credible organizations performs thorough chemical analysis of materials for safety.

Although not exhaustive, the organizations referred to below are those Mattress & Sleep Company believes are rational, scientific, and (as much as possible) not commercially driven.

• eco-INSTITUT in Germany is one such example. They are a polymer specialist who offers a test for natural rubber latex foams. They can verify 100% natural claims and test for hundreds of different VOCs and VVOCs to measure chemical levels.
• OEKO-TEX® in Switzerland is another reputable organization in this arena. OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 evaluates a variety of factors for any material and uses a class-based system to provide a general understanding of a specific material's safety. The four classes are as follows:
  • Product class I:
    • Babies and small children up to 3 years old
  • Product class II:
    • Skin-contact materials
  • Product class III:
    • Material without skin contact
  • Product class IV:
    • Home textiles
• Cradle to Cradle certification is perhaps the most thorough. C2C has an extensive list of qualifications that covers every aspect of producing a finished product, from primary industry and worker treatment to social impact, chemical analysis, sustainability, and end-of-life disposal.

Cradle to Cradle testing is stringent. The Vita Talalay Latex found in our Berkeley Ergonomics mattresses has obtained C2C Gold certification. Platinum is the highest level, and to date, no furniture or mattress products have obtained platinum. As of this blog post, the only C2C platinum-certified product is poplar siding for the exterior of homes.

C2C Material Health Certificate

From a strictly scientific viewpoint, a safety certificate carries more weight than an organic certificate.

However, we do not wish to imply that certified organic mattresses are unsafe. Most organic mattresses also typically have chemical testing done by one or more of the organizations listed above. Our goal is only to point out the difference between an organic certificate and a safety certificate. For example, you can currently buy organic tobacco; this is obviously not advisable for many reasons. Organic tobacco smoke still contains a laundry list of many carcinogens, and it is understood that smoking is not good for our health.

A certified safe mattress is one made using only components tested by one or more of the above testing bodies; a perfect example is our Berkeley Ergonomics mattresses, which offer exceptional value for the quality of the raw materials used.

Cost of Organic Certifications: Where Does the Buck Stop?

We strongly advocate 3rd-party certification to promote a more transparent retail market for consumers. A market where companies can get called out for making false claims, or can be rewarded for proving that they do indeed produce high-quality products with high safety and performance standards. Ultimately, there is a cost associated with being able to ‘prove’ these claims to customers, and the end customer is always the person who is ultimately paying for these certifications.

Peace of mind does come with a cost, but how far do we need to go to trust a company or its products? To our knowledge, three North American mattress manufacturers have organic certification for their factories. These certificates are costly for a small-scale manufacturer, and the cost is reflected in the finished product. These products are still packaged and shipped in plastic bags and cardboard boxes. These materials contain many different VOC’s and VVOC’s.

Mattress & Sleep Company has always tried our best to offer not only the highest-quality products, but also products that represent excellent value for money.

Appropriate Use of High Performance Natural Materials – For a Better Night's Rest

Sleep is a critical biological function, and getting enough sleep is ultimately very important to our optimal day-to-day function. Just as sitting at a desk for 8+ hours or being on your feet for 8+ hours requires a proper chair or pair of shoes for support, the mattress we use for so long is also critical for managing the day-to-day stress and discomfort we put on our bodies.

Correct support to maintain proper posture is ultimately determined by the elasticity of the materials used in a mattress. Elasticity is the ability of a material to deform under physical stress and to return to its original shape when the stress is removed. Highly elastic materials like steel springs provide good support when properly designed. Regarding upholstery foams, which are used in virtually all mattresses on the market, high-quality natural latex foams are significantly more elastic than standard polyurethane foams made from refined crude oil.

Natural rubber behaves more like springs than foam, providing a highly elastic response that supports the human body much better. This elasticity and higher density also contribute to a significantly longer lifespan than standard polyurethane foams. Latex foam usage predates organic certification by many decades. This material has always been fully understood for its desirable performance characteristics.

Humidity and temperature control are critical to falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer. The average person loses approximately 500 ml of moisture every night they sleep. Synthetic fabrics like polyester, commonly used in standard mattresses, have limited breathability and absorb only about 1% of their weight in humidity before they feel damp to the touch. Any additional moisture absorbed after the initial 1% is stored on the outside of the fibres, creating the clammy, uncomfortable feel which ultimately keeps many of us awake. Polyurethane foams used in a mattress's upholstery layers are also limited in breathability and don't allow this stored humidity to evaporate quickly.

Cotton stretch fabrics offer better breathability and comfort than synthetic fabrics. Cotton can absorb up to 8% of its weight in humidity before it feels damp to the touch.

Sheep’s wool is not only more breathable than most synthetic fibres, but it also has a unique ability to absorb up to 35% of its weight in humidity before it feels damp to the touch. This is why, even though wool is a great insulator, it actually prevents overheating at night. Sheep’s wool is scientifically proven to help lower and steady heart rate and help us sleep better.

When sheep’s wool is quilted to or layered beneath cotton, this combination of moisture-wicking performance is virtually unmatched by any other approach.

Natural latex foams also breathe significantly better than standard polyurethane foams. This provides much better air circulation in the mattress, allowing high-humidity air to be expelled efficiently. This not only contributes to a better nights sleep, a dry environment also prevents the growth of bacteria, dust mites, mould and mildew.

A durable mattress is only desirable if it is also hygienic. These high-performance natural materials provide a healthy environment for the mattress's lifespan.

On a closing note, while we as a species have accomplished incredible things with chemistry and advanced synthetic materials, many things in nature remain beyond our reach. While we can synthesize chemicals found in nature in a lab, evolution has developed unique macro- and micro-materials we can only find in nature and cannot duplicate in a lab. These characteristics provide unique benefits:

• Modern sport fabrics can be made just as breathable as natural fabrics. However, these fabrics lack the ability to store humidity the way that natural fabrics do, and in the bedroom, the lack of airflow, as opposed to being outdoors jogging, is of huge concern. This is why 'high-tech' fabrics really should not be used in mattresses and bed linens. The one exception is regenerated cellulose fabrics like Viscose/Modal/Tencel, which absorb heavily because they're made entirely of cellulose, the main chemical found in cotton.
• Aerogel is the lightest, most insulating solid material in the world. It is now even being used in super lightweight jackets as a replacement for goose down. The problem with these jackets so far is that they do not breathe the way goose down does and are prone to overheating.
• Polyisoprene from a rubber tree is still more elastic than other synthetic polymers not inspired by nature. A great example is in latex foam. Natural latex foam is far more elastic than synthetic latex, which is crafted from styrene and butadiene, synthetic petrochemicals.
• Horsetail is tougher, more resilient, and more elastic than any synthetic textile fibre while still allowing breathability, which promotes a healthy bed climate.

These are just a few examples, but textile materials offer an extensive list of uses for natural materials that are still unsurpassed by man-made efforts, most of which support personal comfort.