Flame retardant free mattresses for adults and babies
Flame retardants are found in a variety of products. You can find them in your mattresses, your couch, even in breastfeeding pillows, strollers, car seats, and even kids pajamas. Studies found that flame retardants are even contained in over a hundred children products.
The chemical industry claims that flame retardants are safe, good for the environment and they protect against fire. However, the benefits of these chemicals come with an uncalculated health risk: Flame retardants are linked to cancers, neurological deficits, and hormone disruption Source: US environmental protection agency.
Furthermore experiments show that they do not work as promised. Especially in upholstery and mattresses, the flame retardants are often only applied to the foam, not the textile that surrounds it. Experiments show that in this case as soon as the textile is ignited the flame retardants can’t protect the product to completely go on fire. They only produce a toxic smoke and carbon monoxide.
Meanwhile, the chemicals that should be locked up in the foam do show up all around the planet. They have been found in Polar bears, seals as well as waterfowls around the globe.
But not only there. The chemicals that protect us from fire have been found in the blood of fire fighters who are extremely exposed to these substances.
As the cushions age the chemicals get into the house dust which is contacted and inhaled by the everybody. No suprise that flame retardants have even been found in breast milk.But not only there. The chemicals that protect us from fire have been found in the blood of fire fighters who are extremely exposed to these substances.
As the cushions age the chemicals get into the house dust which is contacted and inhaled by the everybody. No suprise that flame retardants have even been found in breast milk.
Mattresses without flame retardants
As of 2007, all mattresses sold in the US are required to contain enough Fire Retardants to withstand a 2 foot wide blowtorch open flame for 70 seconds. Most brands use a highly controversial fire retardant chemicals, such as PBDE, TDCPP or TCEP in order to get approved.
The national flameproof mattress regulation has been in effect in California since 2005 and is now effective nationwide. All mattresses, sofa beds, futons, cribs and fold out beds are included under the regulation.
But there are alternatives on the market, for instance Kevlar, a material that is also used in bulletproof vests. Here are a few mattress brands that do not use fire retardant chemicals:
- Brentwood Home Bamboo Mattress
uses hydrated-silica sand. Hydrated silica is crushed quartz and opal gemstones. They also line their mattresses with New Zealand wool, which is a natural fire barrier. - My Green Mattress Pure Echo Organic Cotton Natural Mattress
made from all natural wool and organic cotton fabric. The wool acts as a natural flame barrier so this mattress passes flammability testing required by law without the use of toxic chemical flame retardants. - Signature Sleep Contour
made without PBDEs, TDCPP or TCEP (“Tris”) flame retardants, ozone depleters, mercury, lead and heavy metals. - Tuft & Needle Mattress
a fabric blend that fits on the mattress like a sock, underneath the cover, and is comprised of a blend of mostly rayon, with small amounts of polyester and fine-grained silica. - Englaender
Baby Mattresses without flame retardants
- DaVinci Crib Mattresses
- Babyletto Pure Core Crib Mattress
- Naturepedic No Compromise Organic Cotton Classic Crib Mattress
- Dream On Me Full Size Firm Foam Crib and Toddler Bed Mattress
