Because of its health benefits, organic alternatives to food, clothing, and home products become quite popular in recent years, and now the public is starting to catch on to organic mattresses as a healthier and safer alternative to chemically soaked mattresses.  What are the differences between an organic mattress and a synthetic mattress, and why should you be concerned about what you are sleeping on?   While they look similar, the differences lie in what they are made of.  Synthetic mattresses contain hundredths of harmful chemicals including formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, while organic and natural latex (also known as natural rubber) mattresses are natural and safe as well as bio-degradable.

The Synthetic Problem

Synthetic mattresses contain harmful chemicals. Research has shown that the prolonged exposure to these chemicals can cause serious illness or cancer. Consider this: if you were to sleep on a synthetic mattress for eight hours a night for five years, that’d add up to over 14,600 hours of exposure time. 

Below are some of the chemicals commonly used in synthetic mattresses, and the effects they can have.

Formaldehyde 

Used in synthetic mattresses as an adhesive, formaldehyde has been linked to lung, throat, and nose cancers. Repeated exposure to formaldehyde can have serious effects on the respiratory system, cause asthma, and increase your likelihood of contracting bronchitis or pneumonia.

The National Cancer Institute (NCA) has conducted studies to determine the link between formaldehyde and an increased risk in cancer.  Several NCA studies have determined that anatomists and embalmers (who are regularly exposed to formaldehyde in their work) have an increased risk of leukemia and brain cancer.

A study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) looked at 11,039 textile workers, who had been exposed to formaldehyde.  This study corresponded with the earlier NCA studies by finding a link between exposure to formaldehyde and Leukemia.

Polyurethanefoam

This is a petroleum-based material, which can cause respiratory problems and skin irritation.

Polyurethanefoam is often used in mattresses for infant’s cribs, exposing babies to the harmful fumes they let off. An article in the Archives of Environmental Health expressed concern that the foam may be related to increasing incidents of childhood cancer. 

A study on mice conducted at Anderson Laboratories in Vermont supported this theory.  When the mice were exposed to the emissions from synthetic crib mattresses, their breathing was impeded. They experienced both heart and respiratory irritation, and some mice had severe, asthma-like reactions.  The mice were only exposed to these fumes for two, one-hour periods. Imagine how sleeping every night on these mattresses affects children.

Fire Retardants

Manufacturers cover mattresses in fire retardants to counteract the flammability of their mattress chemicals. These fire retardant chemicals enter people’s systems, and as studies have shown, they can disrupt normal brain development in fetuses and infants.  This is bad news, because flame retardants have been found in disturbingly high concentrations in people’s blood and breast milk.  Mothers are passing these chemicals on to their children.

For example, CBS News reported on woman whose blood test revealed that she had 19 different flame retardant chemicals in her body. The same CBS article quoted an Environmental Protection Agency toxicologist, who was concerned about the effects fire retardants have on developing children. 

The same toxicologist said research on young, developing animals has shown fire retardants affect their brains and reproductive systems.  It is safe to say the same would be true for human infants.

The Organic Solution

There is hope, however.  Organic mattresses provide an alternative to synthetic mattresses.  An organic mattress is safe, chemical free, and composed of all natural materials.  Usually, an organic mattress will be made of organic wool, organic cotton, or natural latex rubber.  They are naturally flame resistant; there is no need to worry about them catching fire.

Aside from preventing exposure to harmful chemicals, organic mattresses also repel dust mites, resist mold and mildew buildup, and are hypoallergenic.  Because these mattresses discourage mold and mildew, sleeping on an organic mattress can improve respiration, alleviate allergies, and provide a deeper, higher quality sleep.

Where to Buy

There are several companies currently manufacturing organic mattresses, but it’s important to pick the right one.  Some manufacturers use loose standards when it comes to calling their products organic.

Pure-Rest^TM Organics has perhaps the purest line of organic mattresses on the market.  The transparency with which they do business—revealing exactly what they put into their mattresses—is unmatched by anyone in the industry. Pure-Rest Organics actually sends their mattresses to a third-party lab for testing to ensure they are maintaining the highest organic standards possible.  Perhaps even more impressive, Pure-Rest is the only company currently complying with NAOMI standards, which call for a higher level of purity in organic mattresses.  You can check out their mattresses on their website, http://www.purerest.com, or call them at 1-800-596-7450.

Lifekind, The Organic Mattress Store, and EcoChoices also sell organic mattresses on their websites.  However, while their products are certainly safer than synthetic mattresses, it should be noted they are not NAOMI compliant.

The Bottom Line

There really is no downside to buying an organic mattress: they are made of natural materials, they last longer, and they are safer for you and your family.  When looking for one, you need to make sure you are buying from a reputable company, which clearly tells you what it is putting into its mattresses.