FAQ’s ABOUT NATURAL AND ORGANIC BEDDING
Q: What’s so special about organic bedding?
A: Nowadays, most mattresses and bedding accessories (such as pillows, comforters, etc) are made with synthetic materials derived from petrochemicals. In addition, they’re also heavily coated with stain-resistant toxins and fire retardants such as PBDE’s (polybrominated diphenyl ethers). Most conventional mattresses are constructed with chemically produced polyurethane foam, something fire safety experts call “solid gasoline”. This foam can cause a smoldering mattress to burst into flames, which is why flame retardants (and thus more chemicals) must be included. Organic Bedding takes the scary stuff out of your sleep system. You can rest assured and breathe easy that your bedroom is a true sanctuary for a healthy sleep.
Q: Organic Bedding is more expensive than “regular” bedding. Why?
A: Yes, it costs more. We’re talking premium fibers… the “real stuff”… not fake man-made materials. Other manufacturers use foam and dacrons (chemical synthetics) because they’re cheaper to produce and they make more profits. Most natural rubber mattresses being sold today have at least 10% SBRs (but they won’t tell you this). Other companies use glues to make a rubber mattress into “one-piece”. Organic mattresses – and organic bedding – are made from the finest organic cottons, pure untreated wool and dunlop natural rubber. It is really a question of what you want. If you decide you want a real natural and organic mattress, you will have to pay a little more for it. However, there is another way to look at it. If you calculate the cost of our queen size natural rubber mattress over the lifespan of use, the average cost per day is only about twenty-five cents. Your allergy medicine probably costs more!
Q: What are PBDE’s anyway, and why should I be concerned?
A: Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, or PBDEs, are chemical additives that reduce the flammability of everyday items, such as computer casings, carpet pads, cushions and mattresses. In recent years, scientists have discovered that: PBDEs leach out of the items to which they were added and enter the environment. PBDEs are showing up in the air, soil and sediment, and are building up in animals throughout the food chain. PBDEs travel great distances and have been detected in remote regions, turning up even in the bodies of polar bears in the Arctic. PBDEs are being found in everything from meat and dairy products to fruits and vegetables as well as indoor air and household dust. And because some PBDEs don’t break down easily, the levels of PBDEs in the environment are steadily rising. In lab tests with rodents, some PBDEs have been linked to problems in brain development and thyroid hormones. Most of these problems stem from pre-natal exposure and exposure soon after birth. The health effects appear to be permanent. PBDE levels in humans are about 10 to 100 times higher in the U.S., the world’s largest producer and consumer of PBDEs, than in Europe. Scientists say North American levels appear to be rising at an exponential rate, doubling every two to five years, while countries that have banned their use have seen levels decrease. U.S. levels of PBDEs are rising. Studies have found them in human blood, fat and breast milk. Breast-feeding appears to overcome some of the effects of harmful chemicals and remains the healthiest way to feed babies.
Q: Everything these days are made from chemicals. What’s the big deal if my mattress has some chemicals too?
A: We spend one-third of our life in the bedroom, sleeping on a mattress. Chemicals out-gas continuously, and our pores and respiratory system are the host that bring those chemicals in our body. If you’re not sleeping on a natural latex mattress, here’s what your night-time snack could include: Formaldehyde, Antimony Trioxide, Decabromodiphenyl Oxide (Brominated flame retardant now being found in women’s breast milk), Melamine, zinc Borate, and Vinylidiene Chloride. Chemicals are found in most everday household items (clothing, cleaning products, food, etc). One of the easiest ways to reduce your daily exposure, is investing in a toxin-free latex mattress.
Q: Are latex mattresses comfortable?
A: That’s a good question and should always be considered when purchasing a new mattress. Organic and natural materials don’t mean a thing if your bed isn’t designed and crafted for a good night’s rest. Any bed can be organic, but if it’s not comfrotable, or constructed properly, you’re not going to get the restful sleep you need.
