Idea to Ponder - Organic Mattresses

Close to New Year's Eve, my friend Todd asked me if I had thought about purchasing an organic or green mattress to replace my aging conventional mattress.  I hadn't really thought about the issue, and it sparked my interest.

We spend up to 1/3 of our life on our mattresses, and there are up to 61 chemicals in your average memory foam.  Chronic allergies, migraines, and fatigue are linked to many of the chemicals used in mattresses - not to mention more serious diseases.  I looked on the Internet for the mattress industry's position on the lifetime dose of chemicals, if any, transferred from the mattress to our bodies, but could not find such information. 

As a person concerned about the overall and cumulative exposure of chemicals into our environment and our bodies, and the continued use of non-renewable petrochemicals, an organic mattress makes sense.  The price of an organic mattress is only slightly higher than an expensive, upper-end conventional mattresses.    To decrease the use of these chemicals can only be beneficial to our bodies, food supply, and environment. Other than price, I cannot think of reason NOT to buy an organic mattress.

It was estimated that over 10 million mattresses were deposited in US landfills last year.  Your conventional mattress takes up 23 cubic feet in the landfill and will not likely biodegrade quickly because of the petroleum products and metal components.  There are few US recycling centers for old mattresses, and only a small portion of mattresses are able to be recycled or components reused. If you are disposing of a mattress, I encourage you to look for a recycling center.  I found one quickly in Houston that will recycle and pick up my old mattress for $55 : http://www.mattresspickup.com/
 

On the other hand, the organic mattress is biodegradable and more easily reused and recycled.

I might have to work hard to convince David (a former mattress salesman) to purchase an organic mattress, but I find the arguments for it very persuasive.   Here is a summary of what I have learned (this analysis would extend to pillows and linens as well):

• Organic Mattresses:
• An organic mattress typically contains organic cotton or wool - grown without the use of pesticides and other processing chemicals.  Mattress cores are typically made with steel springs or layers of natural rubber latex, and pillowtops with pure wool or natural rubber latex.  They should be made with renewable resources that support sustainable agriculture.
• Wool is often used to encase the natural rubber latex because it has the ability to absorb large amounts of natural body moisture and then release it easily through evaporation.  Synthetic fillings and coverings do not absorb moisture or dissipate body heat, often causing sleepers to wake perspiring and uncomfortable. Wool can also spring back to its original size and shape, and it discourages dust mites.
• It appears to be an open debate if wool is a natural fire retardant.  The wool organic mattress companies claim that it is because of its high moisture content and flame-reducing protein called keratin.
• Natural latex mattresses with organic wool coverings can help prevent BUG infestations. Organic wool with its natural lanolin repels moisture, dust mites, and bed bugs. And dust mites simply don’t thrive in natural latex like they do in a standard mattress.
• Organic mattresses are biodegradable.
• The organic mattress should last 20-25 years!
• Conventional Mattresses:
• The most common materials used are man-made - usually derived from petrochemicals - all nonrenewable resources.  The list of ingredients can include polyester, polyurethane and memory foams, synthetic latex, Styrofoam, nylon, and other chemical derivatives.
• Conventional mattresses are also likely to include cotton that has been treated with pesticides and other chemicals.  United States farmers applied nearly one-third of a pound of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for every pound of cotton harvested. This can account for 25% of all the pesticides used in the United States.
• Insecticides are often sprayed on mattresses.
• Conventional mattresses are treated with flame retardants and other chemical applications. PBDE is a toxic chemical used in flame retardant compounds that is known to cause memory impairment, thyroid problems and cancer.  The European Union has banned 2 PBDE compounds that are still permitted in the United States.
• Non-organic cotton sheets are often treated with a formaldehyde-based finish that reduces wrinkling. 
• The adhesives used to bind the layers together are known carcinogens.  US EPA has issued a warning that mattress glue can cause skin irritation.  EPA has identified xylene, a chemical in many adhesives used in the production of mattresses, as a cause of birth defects.
• Employees of mattress companies are at a significantly higher risk for cancer because of the adhesives and glues used in the manufacturing process.  US EPA and OSHA highly regulate the industry and working conditions.  I am bothered that with the purchase of a conventional mattress, I am contributing to their exposure to these chemicals.
• Toddler and crib mattresses are covered with PVC and other chemicals for waterproofing properties.   
• Needs to be replaced every 7-10 years.

Here are two websites that compare mattresses: http://www.organicmattressreviews.com/ and http://planetgreen.discovery.com/buying-guides/buy-green-mattresses.html.

Here are few websites that sell organic mattresses: http://thenaturalsleepstore.com/,  http://www.lifekind.com/index.php/ and http://www.thenaturalbedstore.com/organic_mattress.asp. 

I invite readers to add comments to this posting if they have considered purchasing or have purchased an organic mattress.  I am looking forward to buying one!