Once Upon a Mattress--Do You Really Know What is in It?

Do you really know what is in the mattresses your guests are sleeping on? In "Sleep Safe in a Toxic World," which was released this year as a second edition, author Walter Bader says, "Each night, we approach our mattress with minimal clothing and lay down for a seemingly restful and restorative night's sleep. But in reality, while resting on a conventional mattress we are breathing in and absorbing through our skin a slew of chemicals from the synthetic fibers in paddings, pillows, fillings, bed linens, and chemical treatments--chemicals that can disrupt our sleep patterns and negatively affect our health." In his book, which yes, may just keep you up at night, Bader details the dangers hidden in ordinary mattresses--from the polyurethane foam used in the padding to the fire retardants and antimicrobial additives.

The last time you shopped for mattresses, did you ask the salesperson for a disclosure sheet that itemizes the ingredients and lists the potential health hazards of the product? Bader says you should. The author also talks about the hazards from some sheets and blankets. "While wrinkle-free bedding may sound good on a package label, the price we pay is exposure to unnecessary and increasing levels of dangerous chemicals, such as the widely recognized carcinogen formaldehyde." In his book, Bader "takes apart" a mattress and explains what is really in the materials. Did you know, for example, that a mattress's covering fabric is subjected to a number of chemical applications such as toxic dyes, stain and water repellants, wrinkle-resistant treatments, antifungicides, pesticides, fire retardants, and antimicrobial coatings? These are not things you will see mentioned on the mattress law label attached to the mattresses you purchase.

Bader also discusses the potential health hazards of memory foam mattresses. You will not want to miss the results of his laboratory study. Sleep Safe in a Toxic World is available from Freedom Press. And yes, the author does explain how to shop for organic mattresses--critical after reading his book.