Question from Cheryl
Hi all,
I am trying to purchase a metal daybed for our guest room and am desperately needing advice about the two twin mattress.
I want the least toxic option, but the prices are through the roof. This will be slept on currently as a guest bed (not too often and for short periods, also the guests we would be having are completely unconcerned about these issues and buy standard mattresses themselves.
However, I would like to use it daily to sit on while writing or doing crafts, reading etc., because it will double as my hobby room, so there will be contact but the mattress at this point will have bedding on it.
Do you think I can feel reasonably safe, for these purposes, with a Serta or Sealy that claims they do not use PBDEs, or flame retardants other than Kevlar, cotton barrier fabrics and boric acid? Should I be concerned with any toxins from this type of mattress merely being emitted into the air, just by it being a piece of furniture in our home?
My husband and I do not seem bothered by smells in products we purchase, however, our concern is more avoiding carcinogenics or neuro disruptors etc. over the long term exposure. Also, we do not have children, but would this pose an issue if we did, even if they weren’t sleeping on the mattress? I am desperately hoping you can help me with this large and important purchase. Thank you!
Debra’s Answer
Outgassing mattresses will outgass into the room they are in. Bedding does not reduce this. Yes, this would affect children in the room.
I can’t tell you the safety of a Serta or Sealy mattress unless you tell me the specific model you are considering. What you describe sounds fine, but the brand-name mattresses I’ve looked at often have other materials in them too.
If what you want to do is avoid carcinogens and neuro disruptors, then you need to choose a mattress made from all natural materials, or choose a model and find out ALL the materials used so they can be evaluated for these potential toxins.
