Long-Term Toxicity of Beds
QUESTION:
We bought a regular bed for our son and assumed that it would off-gas an be relatively safe. But now I am wondering if I was too naïve. However, my son, who is now 10, does not have any health issues.
We got a mattress and box spring treated with the fire retardant, PB 603 (which I assume is one of the PBDE's). The mattress is now 2 years old and the box spring is just over 1 year old. Is it best to get rid of this bed and get something cleaner or has the worst off-gassing already happened?
POSTED BY MATTHEW :: MASSACHUSETTS USA :: 01/02/2007 6:55 AM
DEBRA'S ANSWER:
Personally, I would get rid of this bed and get a natural bed (see Debra's List : Bed & Bedding).
Chemicals outgas the most when they are first applied, but many continue to outgas for the life of the product. A fire retardant needs to continue to retard fire for the life of the mattress. Though outgassing is probably less after a year or two, it is still outgassing to some degree.
It's also important with children to remember that their bodies are much less able to withstand toxic exposures than adults. They take more breaths in relation to body weight, so inhale more chemicals, and their body immune and detox systems are not fully developed. So even though your son does not have health issues currently, expsoure to toxic substances such as fire retardants could certainly cause health problems in the future. Even if he doesn't seem to have immediate effects from these exposures, many health problems associated with toxic chemical exposure deveop over time.
Since there are so many natural and healthful products now available, my best recommendation is to create an environment for children (and adults) that is as safe and natural as you can make it. That way bodies can have the best chance of being healthy.
Debra :-)
hi,
i seem to remember a recent article about the relative safety of IKEA mattresses/bedding... or maybe it was all IKEA mattresses sold OUTSIDE of the US, due the US still requiring flame retardants whereas the EU has deemed them more dangerous than helpful?
i know will soon be purchasing a mattress for our 2 yr. old son, and as the natural bedding places are out of our price range, we'll be buying at IKEA here in Spain.
i've also recently come across what sounds like a wonderful international natural resource for mattresses and solid wood furniture called Coco-Mat. they can be found at www.coco-mat.com
COMMENT FROM DEBRA: Ikea mattress info is at
Q&A : IKEA.
Cocomat looks like a great resource for you in Spain...
POSTED BY MEREDITH :: MADRID SPAIN :: 01/03/2007 12:51 PM
