Bedding Report

1 1 A report by Made Safe September 2018 Written and researched by Sydney Cook, MS Environmental Studies, with writing by Cassidy Randall, MS Environmental Studies. Content and review provided by Amy Ziff, MA Journalism. Scientific review provided by Summer Streets, MS, Environmental Chemist, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; and Ecology Center. Design by Susan Cann. Thank you to Naturepedic and Coyuchi who helped sponsor the design and release of this report. Funding and content decisions for this report were the sole undertaking of Made Safe. 2 Table of Contents Overview ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................5 How Our Bodies Heal & Detox During Sleep ......................................................................................................................................6 Our Brains...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Our Hormones .............................................................................................................................................................................................6 Our Skin ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................6 What’s Inside the Mattress: Polyurethane Foam ................................................................................................................................7 Flame Retardants ...............................................................................................................................................................................................7 Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers .................................................................................................................................................9 Organophosphorus and Halogenated Flame Retardants ..........................................................................................9 Firemaster 550 ..........................................................................................................................................................................................10 Chlorinated Tris .......................................................................................................................................................................................11 Other Flame Retardants .............................................................................................................................................................................11 Flammability of Foam and Flame Retardants .........................................................................................................................12 Are Flame Retardants Effective? .........................................................................................................................................................13 Isocyanates .............................................................................................................................................................................................................14 Volatile Organic Compounds ...................................................................................................................................................................15 Other Additives ...................................................................................................................................................................................................16 Polyester ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................17 Adhesives ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................18 What’s Inside the Mattress: Waterproof Baby Mattresses........................................................................................................ 20 VOCs ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................21 Phthalates ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................21 3 Safer Mattress Materials ....................................................................................................................................................................................24 Cotton ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................24 Wool ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................25 Latex ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................25 Coils ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................27 Adhesives .................................................................................................................................................................................................................27 Linens................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 28 Pillows....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Sheets ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................28 Mattress Pads & Comforters ..................................................................................................................................................................29 Antibacterial and Antimicrobial Linens .......................................................................................................................................29 Stain Repellants ...............................................................................................................................................................................................30 Spotting Safer Bedding ..............................................................................................................................................................................30 MADE SAFE Certified Products ...................................................................................................................................................................31 Certified Bedding .............................................................................................................................................................................................31 Certified Mattresses .......................................................................................................................................................................................32 Certified Bed Foundations & Frames .............................................................................................................................................32 A MADE SAFE Future ..........................................................................................................................................................................................33 References .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................34 4 Overview We spend approximately eight hours a night sleeping—totaling almost one-third of our lives—spent in bed. Babies spend almost two thirds of their time sleeping.1 As we sleep, our bodies heal, rest, and rejuvenate. However, our mattresses and bedding can contain chemicals known to cause negative health effects, potentially limiting the body’s innate ability to preserve our health. At Made Safe, we believe that products should be made from safe materials. Materials that, according to the best available science, are deemed safe to use—even while we sleep. So let’s start with the heart of

Load more