Share
Bedtime Nightmares: The Unlikely Evil that is Your Child’s Mattress:
Remember the horror movie storyline where the monster lurks within the supposedly safe confines of home? Yeah, that’s about to become your unfolding reality – except the threat isn't a malevolent spirit, but the very cradle of dreams: your kid's mattress! Thanks to new research, we now know mattresses aren't just repositories for imaginary monsters, they are bona fide toxicity hotspots stinking up rooms with noxious chemicals. Think of it as a menacing silent killer lurking beneath your kiddo’s PJs. Sleep tight!
Deadly Dreams – Emission Impossible
The recent study, done by the University of Toronto in collaboration with the Green Science Policy Institute, gathered air samples from rooms of kids under four years old. These terrors by night (or mattresses, for the sake of clarity) were discovered to be off-gassing concerning levels of phthalates, flame retardants, and UV filters. As it turns out, these delightful chemicals are semi-volatile, meaning they can merrily hop off items and seep into the air over time. Warmth and weight of a dozing tot? They even expedite the process.
So not only were the researchers "very surprised" by these excessive chemical levels - one mattress containment was 3% flame retardant, but they also found evidence of these nightmares in non-plastic covers. The horror intensifies as we learn that some of these phthalates are restricted in US children’s products due to their high toxicity, their levels in four tested mattresses exceeded those restrictions. Yikes!
What Nightmares are Made Of
Now that you've been liberally spooked, let's get some context on why this is so terrifying. Phthalates and flame retardants are linked to delights like cancer, reproductive harm, neurological damage, hormonal disruption, and - hold your breath - early onset puberty. Flame retardants are champions in their field, strongly linked to lower IQs. Phthalates are your friendly neighborhood plasticizers helping plastic bend but they are also hiding in non-plastic covers.
The Rise of the Slumber Protectors
We’ve gone down the rabbit hole of nocturnal horrors, but all hope is not lost! To arm yourself against these silent night mares, look for mattresses that forego flame retardants or opt for natural materials like wool, cotton, or latex. Be warned though, they do come with steep price tags. You could even try airing out new mattresses, though that wouldn’t remove all the chemicals. Or if you're crafty, maybe you can make a DIY protective barrier with a terry cloth towel. Remember, they're good at absorbing chemicals.
Ultimately though, the responsibility lies with mattress manufacturers. Miriam Diamond, a study co-author, puts it succinctly, "The mattress manufacturers need to be more vigilant." It’s certainly not the kind of bedtime story we enjoy telling, but it's one that needs to be heard. Sweet dreams!
Remember the horror movie storyline where the monster lurks within the supposedly safe confines of home? Yeah, that’s about to become your unfolding reality – except the threat isn't a malevolent spirit, but the very cradle of dreams: your kid's mattress! Thanks to new research, we now know mattresses aren't just repositories for imaginary monsters, they are bona fide toxicity hotspots stinking up rooms with noxious chemicals. Think of it as a menacing silent killer lurking beneath your kiddo’s PJs. Sleep tight!
Deadly Dreams – Emission Impossible
The recent study, done by the University of Toronto in collaboration with the Green Science Policy Institute, gathered air samples from rooms of kids under four years old. These terrors by night (or mattresses, for the sake of clarity) were discovered to be off-gassing concerning levels of phthalates, flame retardants, and UV filters. As it turns out, these delightful chemicals are semi-volatile, meaning they can merrily hop off items and seep into the air over time. Warmth and weight of a dozing tot? They even expedite the process.
So not only were the researchers "very surprised" by these excessive chemical levels - one mattress containment was 3% flame retardant, but they also found evidence of these nightmares in non-plastic covers. The horror intensifies as we learn that some of these phthalates are restricted in US children’s products due to their high toxicity, their levels in four tested mattresses exceeded those restrictions. Yikes!
What Nightmares are Made Of
Now that you've been liberally spooked, let's get some context on why this is so terrifying. Phthalates and flame retardants are linked to delights like cancer, reproductive harm, neurological damage, hormonal disruption, and - hold your breath - early onset puberty. Flame retardants are champions in their field, strongly linked to lower IQs. Phthalates are your friendly neighborhood plasticizers helping plastic bend but they are also hiding in non-plastic covers.
The Rise of the Slumber Protectors
We’ve gone down the rabbit hole of nocturnal horrors, but all hope is not lost! To arm yourself against these silent night mares, look for mattresses that forego flame retardants or opt for natural materials like wool, cotton, or latex. Be warned though, they do come with steep price tags. You could even try airing out new mattresses, though that wouldn’t remove all the chemicals. Or if you're crafty, maybe you can make a DIY protective barrier with a terry cloth towel. Remember, they're good at absorbing chemicals.
Ultimately though, the responsibility lies with mattress manufacturers. Miriam Diamond, a study co-author, puts it succinctly, "The mattress manufacturers need to be more vigilant." It’s certainly not the kind of bedtime story we enjoy telling, but it's one that needs to be heard. Sweet dreams!
We hope you enjoyed this article. Please feel free to leave a comment below if you want to engage in the discussion.
If you want to read more like this, make sure to check out our Blog and follow us on Instagram. If you are interested in truly sustainable products, check out our Shop.
Check out the original source here.
