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Mattresses are known to release minute amounts of gaseous chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). But don't toss out your mattress just yet: The estimated doses of most VOCs remained well below the levels that could cause health effects, researchers noted.
Similarly, are mattresses really toxic?
Chemical Off-Gassing Flame retardants, formaldehyde, and benzene have been found in some mattresses and can be linked to health issues such as cancer, infertility, and developmental brain disorders. If your mattress is off-gassing harmful chemicals, you're breathing in those toxins for hours every night.
Also asked, what chemicals are used in mattresses?
The most common petrochemicals are ethylene, propylene, butadiene, benzene, toluene, and xylene. Chemical fire retardants: In 2007, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued new federal guidelines to ensure that mattresses are able to withstand the required 30 minutes of exposure to an open flame.
The place where you spend one-third of your life is chock-full of synthetic materials, some potentially toxic. Since the mid- to late '60s, most mattresses have been made of polyurethane foam, a petroleum-based material that emits volatile organic compounds that can cause respiratory problems and skin irritation.