At the end of a long day, there’s nothing better than retreating to the safe haven that is your warm, cozy bed, right?

Unfortunately, even after a few hours of sleep, our mattresses become exposed to elevated levels of humidity, carbon dioxide, and heat from our bodies. These elevated levels may cause chemical reactions in the materials that make up your mattress, giving off harmful chemical compounds that could actually render your bed unhealthy over the long run.

Toxic Materials Found in Many Mattresses

A material that is commonly used in mattresses is high-density polyurethane foam (you’ll know it as memory foam) that softens when exposed to heat and pressure, which is what allows it to mold to your body as you sleep. Polyurethane-based memory foam is a petroleum-based derivative and is not only found in mattresses, but also in pillows, mattress toppers, furniture cushions, and also in some car upholstery.

Unfortunately, the polyurethane in memory foam is known to release small amounts of gaseous chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), that may be harmful to your health and affect the air quality of your bedroom.

Flame retardants and plastics in mattresses also release VOCs, and the exact materials that go into your mattress are not listed or easy to find.

The Dangers

The adverse health effects associated with VOCs can include headaches, eye, nose, and throat irritation, and even organ damage or cancer, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Body heat appears to increase the release of VOCs from mattresses, according to a 2019 study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

Even if these chemicals don't do immediate harm to our bodies, there is concern that lifelong exposure will increase our risk for these adverse health effects.

What You Can Do

The following list includes a few different ways that you can reduce your exposure to VOCs while you sleep:

• Look for a mattress that only uses materials such as cotton, wool, and natural latex, as they will all produce lower levels of gases.

• Choose a mattress that does not contain polyurethane foam, flame retardants, or plastics.

• A natural latex core will offer both support and pressure point relief without the chemicals found in polyurethane foam.

• A natural latex core can help regulate body temperature (which helps with better sleep) and decrease the chemical reactions that cause off gassing in your mattress. Cooling properties added to some memory foam mattresses will also add more potentially harmful chemicals to the mix.

• If you prefer a mattress with a bit more bounce, you can opt for a mattress that contains both latex and springs, such as the Saatva Latex Hybrid Mattress.

• If you are set on the comfort of a memory foam mattress, choose a mattress that uses foam made of plant-derived ingredients, such as soybean oil, in place of some of the petroleum-based derivatives.

• Regularly open your bedroom windows and use an air purifier with a heavy-duty filtration system to remove certain gases and contaminants from the air.

• Do not use air fresheners to mask the smell of VOCs. Not all VOCs are noticeable by smell, and masking any scents with air fresheners tends to simply release other VOCs into the air.

• Be aware of the toxic load of other elements in your room, such as your bedding, the wall and furniture paint, furniture glues and lacquers, flooring, carpets, the cleaning supplies you clean your room with, and the dry cleaning materials used to clean your wardrobe. All of these also contribute to VOC levels in your home and bedroom.

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