It’s no wonder that more and more people are turning away from the chemically saturated mattresses of the petroleum boom and returning to their natural threads.

The modern mattress is an amalgamation of chemical and synthetic components that come together to create an environment that is not only irritating, but also toxic to your health.  And this is an environment where we choose to spend roughly one third of our lives.  Its no wonder then that the chemicals and toxins found in the modern mattress can cause such adverse effects on our health. 

Janine Phariss, of Phoenix, Arizona and her husband know first hand of the health problems associated with the modern commercial mattress. In their recent search for a new mattress, Janine and her husband found that each one they tried “stank to high heaven.”  After purchasing a popular brand and bringing it home, they both experienced health effects ranging from annoying to severe.  “My husband has had several headaches, and severe pain in his neck and shoulder,” said Janine.  “My husband is one of those folks with a very healthy constitution, so for him to get that rash was strange to say the least,” she added.   Janine was also plagued by health problems.  “I've had headaches and I don't normally get them. I've had rashes on my legs, swollen tonsils, and body aches.”  Janine and her husband also complained of feeling “foggy” in the morning when they would wake up.  “He got better when he was at work after a while, and I seemed to feel a little better about 4 p.m. or anytime I was out of the house or had the door closed to the bedroom,” she said. 

Debora Rouse of South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has faced one ailment after another in reaction to the chemicals in her pillows and mattress topper.  In early 2005, Debra and her husband purchased specialized bedding that was advertised to “add luxury to your ordinary mattress,” and “provide an extravagant sleeping surface that customizes to comfort your entire body.” 

Debra recently described their experience, “My husband's face swelled up, with his lower lip getting huge.  I developed hives, with horrible itching and a sinus infection that just won't go away.  As an experiment, a few nights ago I tried sleeping in our guest room for a few nights and my hives started to resolve, but not my sinus infection, even after being on antibiotics for a week.  I also had a reaction of facial swelling of my eyes and lower lip, weeks after purchasing the topper and pillows.  I hadn't actually slept on the pillows, only used it for support when sitting up reading.  Thinking back, my face swelling occurred on the one night I actually slept on the pillow.  My eyes would burn when I would sit up and read in bed, as I often do, using the Tempsoma pillows for support.  I also experienced intense fatigue.  My energy level has dropped to the point where EVERYTHING is a major effort.”

These reactions are similar to those experienced by many people who are exposed to chemically laden mattresses.  Linda B, of British Columbia, Canada, experienced headaches, and sinus problems and felt that her throat was closing every time she slept on her new mattress.  “What is so strange is usually I don't have headaches or any allergies. But for sure my headaches and sinus problem, and closing of the throat are from the new beds because the 'in between new bed times' my head clears. I'm also fine once I've been outside for an hour or so,” she said.

Some people are simply more sensitive to the chemicals and gases that are used in the making of the modern mattress.  This sensitivity causes some of the immediate symptoms such as rashes, headaches, breathing difficulties, and blurred vision that have been described by people who have recently purchased a new mattress.  Others may experience side effects such as fatigue, nausea, or difficulty concentrating that are more difficult to link to chemical exposure. 

A recent study recently published in the Archives of Environmental Health, examined the health effects of sleeping on a conventional mattress.  The researchers of the study exposed groups of male Swiss-Webster mice to the emissions of several brands of mattresses for 2 one-hour periods.  The authors then tested the animals for respiratory frequency, pattern, and airflow velocity.  Their research revealed that the emissions of four of the mattresses caused various combinations of upper-airways irritation, such as sensory irritation, pulmonary irritation, and decreases in mid-expiratory airflow velocity. 

A traditional mattress with wire springs and fiber padding caused sensory irritation in more than half of all breaths taken.  This mattress also caused pulmonary irritation in 23 percent of breaths, and a decrease in airflow in 11 percent of breaths.  The largest decrease in airflow occurred with the mattress that was topped with a polyurethane foam pad and vinyl cover.  All of the mattresses in the study caused pulmonary irritation.  Using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, the researchers identified potential respiratory irritants, such as styrene, isopropylbenzene, and limonene in the emissions of one of the polyurethane foam mattresses. Some of the mattresses emitted mixtures of volatile chemicals that had the potential to cause respiratory-tract irritation and decrease airflow velocity in mice.

Now consider this…the study’s authors also performed a similar experiment using organic cotton padding.  This research produced very different results.  When the mice in the study were exposed to this bedding, they presented increases in both respiratory rate and in the volume of air inhaled and exhaled with each breath.[i]  The researchers found that organic cotton bedding actually improved the respiratory health of the study subjects.

People who experience short-term, acute reactions to their chemically-based mattress may have an easier time linking their symptoms to their mattress.  But what about the long term side effects of this prolonged exposure to chemicals and toxins?  In addition to the chemical found in the conventional mattress, we are also exposed on a daily basis to a wide array of chemicals in throughout the rest of our homes.  Read on to learn more about the chemicals that may be found in your home and how these pollutants may be affecting your health and your overall quality of life.

Nicole Armand, of Eugene, Oregon, was also shocked to discover the health risks associated with the modern chemically based mattress.  A few years ago, Nicole and her husband purchased a new Sealy mattress.  The first night of sleeping on it, Nicole experienced a mild seizure but she was unaware of the cause of her health problems.  For two more years, Nicole had seizures that continued to get more severe. Her doctors finally found a medication that helped to control her seizures, but neither Nicole nor her doctors ever uncovered the link between her mattress and her seizures.  Over the years, Nicole also developed fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.  Unfortunately, it is just recently that she has begun to suspect that her health problems were likely brought on by exposure to her new mattress.  “We didn't let it off gas as we did not know any better, but I do remember the odor of the mattress when it was new, and to this day I still suffer so badly that I can not work anymore.  Could a mattress be the culprit to my downward spiraling health conditions?” asked Nicole.  Nicole still has the same mattress, but she no longer sleeps on it.  “I am sure it is done off gassing, but the damage has already been done,” she added.  

Eric Sutton, of Ashburn, Virginia, is another consumer who is all too familiar with the potential health effects that can be associated with a synthetically produced mattress.  “For our anniversary, my wife and I decided to trade our old mattress in for a Tempur-Pedic Swedish sleep system that we saw in a local Brookstone store,” he said in a recent interview.  “We purchased the top-of-the-line king size mattress with additional pillow-top as well as the recommended foundation (to replace the normal box spring).  We also splurged and got two of the Supreme pillows as well.  In all, we spent over $4000.00.”

Eric and his wife thought they were purchasing a mattress that would improve their sleep and overall health.  But, instead, they found the opposite to be true.

“The mattress couldn't be delivered until the following week but we were able to take the pillows home immediately.  It was late when we got home from the store, so as we got ready for bed, we un-boxed the pillows and immediately noticed the horrible smell of the material,” said Eric.  He explained that he and his wife were almost to the point of gagging from the odor of their new “top of the line” pillows.  “There was a sticker on the pillow that stated the pillow will have an odor but it was harmless and after a few days the smell would dissipate.  I remember not being comfortable with the pillow on the first night and woke the next morning with a severe headache and a stiff neck.  I didn't think much of it at the time and continued to sleep with the pillow for a few more days before ditching it and returning to my ‘normal’ pillow,” explained Eric. 

A week later, when Eric’s new mattress, he found it to be extremely comfortable, “It supported every inch of my body without pressure points,” he said.  However, just like the pillow, Eric’s new mattress emitted a horrible odor. Eric described the smell, stating, “it filled the entire house with a chemical smell that was impossible to ignore.”   The very next day, Eric woke up experiencing tremendous pain in every single joint of his body, including his neck, shoulders, elbows, back, hips and knees.  He also experienced severe muscle pain around those joints and significant weakness. 

As the owner of a personal fitness studio who works out every day, Eric’s first assumption was that he had over-trained the day before.  But as the days went on, Eric’s pain got worse and worse.  “It got so bad that I couldn't move without excruciating pain and it was so debilitating, I couldn't go to work because I couldn't roll myself over in bed, let alone walk up and down stairs or lift any weight heavier than five pounds,” said Eric.

After a few days of staying in bed and “feeling like he wanted to die,” Eric finally went to the doctor with unbearable pain and muscle fatigue throughout his entire body.  His doctor ran all sorts of blood tests for conditions such as Lyme disease, mononucleosis, strep throat, and a variety of other illnesses.  But all of Eric’s tests results came back negative.  Eric spent the next week in bed on pain killers, and unable to move.

After over six weeks with the new mattress, Eric was still feeling horrible, but he still had not made the connection between his symptoms and his mattress… until the night he stayed away from my home.  Eric woke up the next morning and immediately noticed that his pain and stiffness wasn’t quite as bad as it had been over the previous weeks.  “Immediately things began to click,” he said, adding, “I returned to my home the following day and after just one night’s sleep in the Tempur-pedic bed, I again returned to feeling completely miserable.”  Eric knew the return of his symptoms was somehow linked to his new mattress.  After doing some research on the internet, he stumbled upon a website that was filled with reports from others who were experiencing health effects similar to his own.  “Needless to say I started sleeping in our guest room until we returned the mattress and pillows,” said Eric. 

Immediately after Eric and his wife returned their mattresses and pillows, Eric started feeling better.  It took about three weeks for most of Eric’s physical symptoms to dissipate.  But about eight weeks after returning the mattress, Eric was back to his normal self and working out with full effort again.

The Health Hazards of the Memory Foam Mattress

Eric’s story is not an isolated one, and you’re about to understand why.  Recently I had on one of the popular memory foam mattresses tested by a reputable laboratory using methods that complied with ASTM Standards D 5116-97 and D-56670-01 92,8) and with the United States EPA’s ETV protocol (9). The entire mattress was placed in a sealed stainless-steel environmental chamber where chemical emissions were collected and analytically measured over a 96-hour period. The VOC measurements were taken by gas chromatography together with mass spectrometric detection (GC/MS). While some of the chemicals detected cannot be identified with 100% certainty, mass spectral libraries made available from NISST, the USEPA and the National Institute of Health (NIH) were used to characterize compounds.  Combined with the testing laboratories own databases, this data gives a high level of identification reliability.

In total, the memory foam mattress tested emitted 61 chemicals (volatile organic compounds or VOCs) . Here is list of those chemicals:

• 1,2,4-Methenoazulene, decahydro-1,5,5,8a tetra methyl
• 1,2-Propanediol (Propylene Glycol)
• 1 ,4-Dioxane
• 1 ,6-0ctadiene, 7 -methyl-3-methylene (Myrcene)
• 1-Butanol (N-Butyl alcohol)
• 1-Dodecene
• 1-Hexanol,2-ethyl
• 1-Propanol, 2-chloro-*
• 2-Butanol, 3-methyl
• 2-Pentenal, 2-methyl
• 2-Propanol (Isopropanol)
• 2-Propanol, 1,3-diehloro-
• 2-Propanol, 1-(2-Dropenyloxy)
• 2-Propanol, 1-[1-methyl-2-(2-propenyloxy) ethoxy*
• Azulene, 1,2,3,4,5,6, 7,8-oetahydro-1 ,4-dimethyl-7- 12.6 (1-methvlethvlidene )
• Benzaldehyde
• Benzene, 1,2,4-trimethyl
• Benzene, 1,3-diehloro
• Benzene, 1,4-diehloro
• Benzene, 1-methylethyl (Cumene)
• Bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-2-ene':2-carboxaldehyde
• Bicyclo[3.1.1]heptan-3-one, 2,6,6-trimethyl-.1a,2b,5a)*
• Chlorobenzene
• Cyclohexane, 1, 1-dimethyl-2-propyl*
• Cyclohexane, octyl*
• Cyclohexasiloxane, dodecamethyl*
• Cyclohexene, 1-methyl-4-( 1-methylethylidene)*
• Cyclopentasiloxane, decamethyl
• Cyclotetrasiloxane, oetamethyl
• Cyclotrisiloxane, hexamethyl
• Decane, 3-methyl
• Decane, 5-methyl*
• Dodecane
• Dodecane, 3-methyl
• Heptylcyclohexane*
• Hexanal
• Hexasiloxane, tetradecamethyl (8CI9CI)*
• Limonene (Dipentene; 1-Methyl-4-1 methylethyl cyclohexene)
• Longifolene
• Naphthalene
• Naphthalene, decahydro-*
• Naphthalene, decahydro-2-methyl*
• Pentasiloxane, dodecamethyl*
• Phenol, 4-(1-methylpropYI)-*
• Pinene, a (2,6,6- Trimethyl-bieyelor3.1.1 ]hept-2-ene)
• Pinene, p (6,6-Dimethyl-2-methylene bieyelo[3.1.1 ]heptane)
• Propane, 1,2,3-triehloro
• Propane, 1,2-dichloro
• Propanoic acid, 2,2-dimethyl-, 2-ethylhexyl ester*
• Silane, trichloro(chloromethyl)-*
• Silanediol, dimethyl-*
• Styrene
• TXIB (2,2,4-Trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate)
• Tetrasiloxane, decamethyl
• Toluene (Methylbenzene)

·        Trisiloxane, octamethyl*

• Undecane
• Undecane, 2,6-dimethyl
• Undecane, 2-methyl
• Xylene (para and/or meta)
• c-Deeahydronaphthalene

*Indicates NIST/EPAINIH best library match only based on retention time and mass spectral characteristics with a probability of > 80%. '1 'i1. ~ 5 Individual volatile organic compounds are calibrated relative to toluene. . I All individual VOCs detected met the criteria of less than 1/100 the ACGIH established threshold limit value (TL V) and/or less than % the CA chronic reference exposure level (CREL). Quantifiable level is 0.04 I1g based on a standard 18 L air collection volume.

It is not within the scope of this book to advise the reader as to any potential health risks from long-term or chronic exposures to these compounds. However, if you are sleeping on one of these memory foam mattresses you should be aware that you could potentially be exposing yourself to Propane 1,2,3-trichloro, Propane 1,2 - dichloro, Benzene, 1,4-dichloro, Naphthalene, and 1-4 Dioxane.  These are chemicals that have all been recognized by the California Health and Welfare Agency (Proposition 65 Chemicals) to cause cancer. Styrene is recognized by the International Agency on Research of Cancer (IARC) as being possibly carcinogenic to humans. Toluene, also known also as Methylbenzene, has been listed by the California Health and Welfare as a cause of reproductive toxicity.

Human health risks for all the above chemicals, as well as others in this chapter can be found at http://www.epa.gov/iris/index.html.  This is a chemical database, albeit certainly not complete, that is maintained by the EPA.  This database is referred to by the acronym IRIS (Integrated Risk Information System.)

Presented together with the EPA’s Office of Research and Development and the National Center for Environmental Assessment, this database is intended to provide consumers with a source of non-technical, reliable information on chemicals.

Long-term, low-level outgassing from many of the chemicals listed may be responsible for a variety of individual illnesses and symptoms even though their outgassing levels may be well below what OSHA and the EPA consider to be harmful. That’s because each of us is unique in the chemical threshold that our bodies can withstand and existing or cumulative body burden that we are already carrying. A person’s immune systems may already be compromised, their DNA may create a pre-disposition to specific chemicals that makes them hyper-sensitive (reactaive at unusally low levels of exposure), and/or their daily exposures to other chemicals can create synergistic unique reactions.

Yet, in the face of all these chemicals, and unknown potentials for health risks, consumers innocently take products such as this mattress and/or pillow into their bedrooms without any information on the labels that tells them what chemical ingredients were used to create the product or any potential chemical outgassing that may be created from these materials. Consumers accept these products without any assurances that their health will not be jeopardized because they have never been made aware of any potential risks.

Speaking of “potential risks”, let me make perfectly clear that no mattress you will buy will be completely free of chemicals, and if someone is saying that their product is chemical-free, you should ask for the testing documentation that they use to verify this.  Whatever you use to make a mattress, some level of chemical exposure is unavoidable, be it from natural or manufactured chemicals.

For instance, I also tested a Lifekind® organic mattress made from certified organic cotton and Naturally Safer ™ wool.  Here are the most recent results.

            Decanal

            Nonyl aldehyde (nonanal)

Decanal in this case is probably outgassing from the citrus oil used in the soap utilized in the wool scrubbing process. Decana also naturally occurs in almonds, apples, flowers, apricots, artichokes and avocados. Nonyl aldehyde (nonanal) is found in various vegetables and is used as a food additive.

These chemicals probably originated from the soaps used to clean the wool, and/or from the normal air borne substances that can be absorbed by cotton and wool during their growth cycles.  Due to environmental absorption, other compounds may also be present in any mattress that uses natural materials such as cotton or wool.  These levels are usually too low to even quantify with test equipment, and typically these compounds completely outgas in a fairly short period of time (weeks not years). In my opinion, these types of exposures do not create a health threat, and when compared to the outgassing of alternative products they represent a much healthier choice.