Is your bed contributing to your chronic health issues?

Often, when consumers purchase a new mattress, a lot of care is taken to consider a very important comfort-related question: Soft or firm. What you may not realize, however, is that the material used to create that preferred soft or firm mattress often contains chemicals which may create health hazards or aggravate conditions, such as asthma.
 
Due to fire retardant laws in recent years, there are "a multitude of chemicals added to mattresses; most of which outgas as soon as you remove the plastic covering," says Mindy Segal of Orange Mattress in Maplewood. 50 years or so ago, mattresses were made mostly from natural materials, untreated by chemicals. However, the majority today are made using a variety of petroleum-based chemicals, synthetic materials like plastic and foam, and flame retardants.
 
In greater numbers than in the past, health-conscious consumers are seeking information about "organic" or "non-toxic" bedding, says Segal, who custom makes a variety of mattresses including cotton innerspring, cotton and horse hair innerspring, solid latex mattresses wrapped in cotton and/or wool, and solid horse hair and cotton, among others.  "We make our organic mattresses the old-fashioned way," she says.
 
We asked Segal, "What should every consumer shopping for an organic mattress know? What should they look out for?"
 
Her response: "The biggest deception I see is that manufacturers are making products with some natural materials in them; however, they are mixed with non-natural.  For example, there are mattresses on the market sold as latex, but they're really comprised of latex glued on to synthetic foam.  This means only part of it is latex (or natural), not the whole mattress.  Most mattress manufacturers today are trying to 'get green,' but are blending natural and non-natural components.  To some, this may not make a difference, but to others (particularly those with chemical sensitivities), it's important."
 
Consumers should also know in advance that in order to have a mattress made without fire retardant, you must get a doctor's note stating you have a medical condition that requires you to sleep on a mattress without the chemicals used in fire retardants. For more information on organic mattresses, call 1-800-761-1100.