Your Chemical Mattress May Be Killing You

You may lose some sleep when you find out what's really inside your mattress - for example, cotton pesticides and flame-retardant chemicals, which can cause cancer and nervous-system disorders.

The average mattress, the place where you spend one-third of your life is chock-full of synthetic materials, some potentially toxic and even deadly.

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.

Formaldehyde, which is used to make one of the adhesives that hold mattresses together, has been linked to asthma, allergies, and lung, nose, and throat cancers. And then there are cotton pesticides and flame-retardant chemicals, which can cause cancer and nervous-system disorders.

In 2005, Walter Bader, owner of the "green mattress" company Lifekind and author of the book Toxic Bedrooms, sent several mattresses to an Atlanta-based lab. A memory-foam model was found to emit 61 chemicals, including the carcinogens benzene and naphthalene.

There is no proven health risk from the substances in mattresses, however, mostly because tracking their long-term effects is virtually impossible.

Heather Stapleton, an environmental chemist at Duke University, says there's simply not enough data to determine whether low levels of these chemicals will eventually make people sick.

"It's the dose that makes the poison," she says. "If they're not getting out, maybe it's not a problem-but we don't know. There are plenty of lab studies that show that these compounds are harmful. It's just a question of what levels people are exposed to."

Still, more and more consumers are seeking out mattresses made of natural latex, organic cotton batting, and organic wool. Sales of latex mattresses have increased by 40 percent annually for the past five years. And they are even sold by discounter 1-800-Mattress.

It's hard to say whether you should ditch your conventional bed in favor of a green one, since you'll likely have a tough time figuring out exactly which toxins are lurking under your covers.

Take, for example, fireproofing chemicals: Pentabde, a member of the polybrominated diphenyl ether (pbde) family of flame retardants, was used in some mattresses before 2004, when it was phased out. (Pentabde is now known to be toxic to the liver, thyroid, and nervous system.) So let's say that just to be on the safe side you toss your pre-2004 mattress and buy a new one.

Problem solved? Maybe not. Last July, the Consumer Product Safety Commission began to require that all mattresses sold in the United States be able to withstand 30 minutes of exposure to an open flame.

Mattress makers aren't using Pentabde anymore-but it's not clear exactly what they are using to meet the new standard. Major manufacturers such as Simmons, Sealy, and Tempur-Pedic won't divulge their flame-retardant formulas, which are considered trade secrets. A Simmons press release touts a "proprietary blend of char-forming, intumescing, flame-resistant components." Tempur-Pedic vaguely states that its products "consistently meet all safety standards."

A best guess at what's in today's mattresses comes from Ryan Trainer, executive vice president of the International Sleep Products Association, an industry group. He says most companies use "various types of barrier fabrics" such as cotton treated with boric acid or rayon treated with silica-both relatively benign chemicals-as well as fire-resistant materials such as modacrylic fiber (which contains antimony oxide, a carcinogen) and melamine resin (which contains formaldehyde).

With a doctor's prescription, people who are chemically sensitive and have allergies can order a mattress that doesn't pass a flammability test. But organic-mattress companies have found a simple way to fireproof: wrapping their bedding in a layer of wool. Their prices aren't so warm and cozy-a queen-size latex model from Virginia-based Savvy Rest starts at $1,599.

But if you're having nightmares about your mattress, and it's time to trade in your well-worn Posturepedic anyway, it might be worth it.

SOURCE: TORONTO DAILY NEWS, APRIL 1, 2008

The Green Mattress(TM) - The World's First All-Natural, Biodegradable Sleep System Introduced

SAN FRANCISCO, April 2, 2008, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- From packaging to bed frame and mattress materials, FloBeds of Fort Bragg, California has created the world's first completely green sleep system.

"Every part of the Green Mattress(TM: 101.92, -1.36, -1.31%) bed -- made of cotton, wool, latex and pine -- is 100 per cent biodegradable and recyclable," explained Dave Turner, bed inventor and owner of FloBeds, a company founded in 1979 to create personally crafted mattresses. Visit http://www.FloBeds.com for more information.

The Green Mattress is made of natural latex from rubber trees with no petro-based or other harmful chemicals used in processing. The latex is biodegradable and Oeko-Tex Certified. The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 provides the textile and clothing industry with a globally uniform standard for the objective assessment of harmful substances for the first time. Raw materials, intermediate and end products at all stages of processing throughout the manufacturing chain, including accessories, are tested and certified.

Organic Cotton, Pure Wool Covers

The cover for The Green Mattress is made of organic cotton and pure Mt. Shasta EcoWool, natural fibers that provide maximum airflow around your body and natural wicking so you sleep cool and dry. Woolgatherer Carding Mill uses BioSoft Wool Scouring Detergent, which leaves no detectable residue and is 100 per cent biodegradable.

FloBeds foundations are made from wood sustainably harvested from Ponderosa Pine forests in the western U.S. and birch forests in Western Europe.

Fire Retardant without Chemicals

FloBeds uses the nature fire resistant properties of wool to meet tough new federal fire standards which became effective July 1, 2007.

Since FloBeds Green Mattresses are shipped by UPS, FloBeds has devised a system of four small cartons for shipping a king-size bed and foundation. Says Turner: "Our factory-direct-to-you model further saves on fuel and distribution costs. The packing materials also are recyclable. If you buy wooden, instead of metal or plastic legs, the entire bed is made of natural compostable materials."

SOURCE: FOX BUSINESS, APRIL 2, 2008

A decent night's sleep? Priceless.

(Opinion)

I went for a little test drive the other day, trying out different models.
One, in particular, was a real beauty, all sleek and shiny on the outside, luxurious to the touch.
"How much," I asked the salesman.
"$7,500," he answered, never batting an eye.
And that's without the engine.
Criminy, what does it cost to get a decent night's sleep around here?
Plenty, it would appear, judging by my recent sojourn into a few mattress stores.
Turns out not only do some mattresses cost more than a decent used car these days, they also seem to come with just about everything but the steering wheel.
Do I want innerspring or foam, continuous coil or pocket springs? And, say, how about a little air?
Um, no thanks on the latter. Yes, I know these "adjustable" beds are nothing like the air mattresses we used to blow up on camping trips.
Even so, memories die hard — hard as the ground I usually woke up on about 3 every morning after my air mattress managed to "spring" a leak.
Leaks are also the reason I've stayed away from waterbeds all these years as well — that and the fear that I might sink into the middle of one, never to rise again.
OK, no beds that come with their own buoys. No beds that come with a pump. That narrows it down.
So does my pocketbook.
For a mere 50 grand or so, I could be sleeping on a Hastens mattress, made with horsehair, cotton, linen and wool.
Custom-hand-crafted — perhaps by gnomes who live in the forest — each bed takes about two weeks to make.
European royalty, it is said, sleeps on these beds, though no word if one of them includes a princess and a certain pea.
Since I foolhardily bought groceries rather than oil when it was selling for $28 a barrel, I'll have to make do with something a tad less pricey.
And a little less, um, fluffy.
I would say that 80 percent of the mattresses I looked at came with some sort of "pillowtop," stuffed with foam.
"If the mattress is so good, why does it need this?" I asked one salesman who had no ready answer, other than to tell me all mattresses have some foam in them. Somewhere.
OK, let's take the opposite tack. How about an all-foam mattress? Maybe, but can I have one that doesn't leave indentations of every little bump and hollow of my body each time I leave the bed?
Reminds me too much of those chalk outlines you see on TV crime shows.
What I really want is the kind of mattress I have now — minus the lumps and bumps that come from a dozen or so years of tossing and turning, a move across town, and grandkids playing trampoline.
Why, this bed you could even turn over, which we've done several times during its lifetime.
But that lifetime has about run out. Same, no doubt, for the bedding that you just know will no longer fit on whatever kind of new "buffed up" bed we do wind up getting.
Fresh hell awaits, I'm sure. Do I want 800-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets or bamboo sheets with a mere 230-thread count.
And what about a new comforter set. (Does anyone even make bedspreads anymore?) Shouldn't cost more than $500 or so.
That's just about what I paid for my first used car, matter of fact. Engine included.

SOURCE: ARIZONA DAILY STAR, MARCH 30, 2008

Is Heat the Achilles Heel Of The Tempurpedic Mattress?

Unless you've been living on Mars, you've probably heard about memory foam mattresses and the amazing support they give you when sleeping. The Tempurpedic mattress was the first and - many would claim - the best on the market. But there have been comments made that Tempurpedic mattresses sleep hot. Is it true? Has the fantastic support it offers been compromised by excessive heat?

A conventional foam mattress has closed air bubbles that compress when pressure is applied. A memory foam mattress has air bubbles that are open or linked together. This is an important part of the design in that it means air can flow from one cell to another. This ability lets the foam mould to the exact shape of whatever is placed on it. Coupled with this cell technology, the Tempurpedic mattress is also heat-responsive to give even better contouring and support.

The sleeper is given better support than either a conventional or foam mattress as there is more contact between the body and mattress - as much as 30% more. But this extra contact decreases the amount of body exposed to air. Evaporation is reduced, which in turn leads to a build up of body heat. The problem is exacerbated because tossing and turning, which helps evaporation, is greatly reduced when sleeping on a Tempurpedic mattress.

So, while many people concur about the support benefits offered by a Tempurpedic mattress, some also report of sleep loss due to excessive heat - a sort of catch-22 situation.

In response, memory foam manufacturers, including Tempurpedic, have introduced a convoluted layer of visco-elastic foam at the base of the mattress to help draw away air and heat.

While this definitely helps, some customers still report a temperature problem. Unfortunately for those who experience being uncomfortably hot, there is little to be done as the very structure of a memory foam mattress can't be changed.

The best advice to reduce heat while sleeping on a Tempurpedic mattress is to try reducing the number of blankets or changing to a lighter one. Although the cover that comes with the Tempurpedic mattress is breathable, it does prevent moisture escape; you could try removing the cover and put a plain sheet directly on top of the mattress.

Other manufacturers have claimed to have solved the problem but they are also using a convoluted piece of foam in conjunction with the memory foam, so you're going to have the same problem to a less or greater extent.

A memory foam mattress isn't going to be suitable for everyone. If heat is something you already suffer from in your old mattress, you might be best advised to stay with a conventional spring mattress. If you've been sleeping on your old one for many years you'll amazed at how box spring mattresses have improved in terms of comfort and support.

But remember, most people feel no discernable increase in heat when sleeping on memory foam, so if you're thinking about buying a new mattress you should definitely take a look at a Tempurpedic mattress.

Source: American Chronicle, 11/28/07

Veteran salespeople share insights on sales success

To sell Aireloom bedding at Sit 'n Sleep, sales associate Emil Dobrescu talks about Earl Kluft, the bedding veteran who makes the line.

"I wouldn't be able to sell Aireloom without telling Earl Kluft's story," Dobrescu said. "I emphasize this is a family owned business with tradition and craftsmanship."

One of the keys to selling bedding, says Dobrescu, who has been doing so for six years, is to tell stories. "To create an emotional connection with the consumer," he said, "you need to tell stories."

But those stories, like the one about Earl Kluft and his history of making fine bedding, must be believable, Dobrescu said. Consumers will see through stories that are made up simply to impress them, he said. "If a story is fake, it won't stick," he said. "You can't make up fairy tales. The consumer will cancel the sale and they won't come back to you. I don't want to compromise my integrity."

Integrity is a key word at Sit 'n Sleep. The retailer prides itself on a sales force that operates professionally at all times.

Mattress Retailing 101Dobrescu shared several of his keys to success in an interview at the retailer's store here. The process starts, significantly, with a friendly greeting. "It would be a lack of respect not to greet them," he says of his customers. He aims to greet them within seconds of their entrance into the store. "I say 'hi' and welcome them to Sit 'n Sleep," he said.

One of the most important parts of the selling process is the ability to listen, according to Dobrescu. "I listen a lot," he said. "I try to come up with the best solution based on comfort and price. I don't push them over the edge. I'm not always going for the most expensive bed unless they give me an indication they can afford it."

Consumers shopping at Sit 'n Sleep can be overwhelmed by the vast selection of beds: the retailer has about 140 beds on a typical sales floor. Dobrescu determines his customers' comfort preference by having them try three beds. Then he knows where to focus.

When showing beds, he talks about the benefits a new mattress provides. For example, he noted that foam provides pressure relief and offers comfort. He's had good success selling Tempur-Pedic in that arena, he said.

Dobrescu said it's important to remain current on the latest mattress constructions. "You need to know the mattresses inside and out," he said. "You need to be up on the newest trends. We are ahead of the game here. We are educating the market."

Arthur: Humor puts the customer at ease

Laguna Hills, Calif. — Roger Arthur, store manager and mattress salesman at the Sit 'n Sleep store here, uses humor to put his customers in a relaxed mood.

"I'm not here to sell you anything," he says. "I tell them, 'We don't have to pay for it or sleep on it.' It blows them away when I tell them that."

If he feels he has established enough rapport with a customer, he may take the humor to another level. When he is asked what type of mattress he sleeps on (a common question), he has a quip ready: "My mattress is the most important piece of furniture in my house. You are not sleeping in my house. You are not getting my mattress."

That brings a laugh — and it underscores the importance of a good mattress.

"Humor is very important," Arthur said. "If a customer doesn't think this is relatively comical, you've got a problem."

He's spent nine years selling mattresses, more than five of them at Sit 'n Sleep. "That's not long enough," he says of his time with Larry Miller, president of Sit 'n Sleep. "He's the best employer in retail in the U.S.," he said. "Most employees would work for him for half the money. He lets us be honest with the customer, and the customer senses that. He also lets us be nice to our customers and be nice to each other."

Arthur said customers respond to his words of praise for Miller. They believe that a company that treats employees well will treat customers well, too, he said.

He notes that one challenge on the sales floor is to give the customer just the right amount of attention. "One of the most difficult things I've encountered is the art of ignoring the customer without really ignoring them," he said. "That is the most compelling thing you can do in this store. Customers are getting pounced upon" in other stores.

Arthur said he tries to let his customers know that he wants them to sleep better, but that he won't push them into a sale. "The customer has to genuinely believe I care about them," he said. "If they purchase a mattress from me, thank you. If they don't, I will still sleep well. I have their best interests at heart. They are making a really important investment."

Source: Furniture Today, 11/15/07

Mattress recycling program instituted by eMattress

As the American public becomes increasingly aware of the need for recycling and green manufacturing processes, one mattress manufacturer, eMattress, is taking the lead by announcing a mattress recycling program. This program will make it possible for owners of an eMattress memory foam mattress to have their old beds picked up at their homes and recycled, rather than being forced to let these items cause environmental problems in local landfills.

More than 63,000 mattresses are disposed of every year and they end up in American landfills. Because of the considerable size of these items, mattresses are the single greatest factor in pushing landfills to capacity. Each mattress takes up as much as 23 cubic feet. Clearly, a recycling program is called for: only eMattress has, thus far, been able to implement a program making this possible.

Any memory foam mattress purchased from eMattress can be returned to eMattress for dismantling and recycling. EMattress, which is an original manufacturer of memory foam bedding, will break the mattress down into its original components and recycle the materials safely and in an environmentally sound manner. From the owner’s perspective, recycling the mattress is easy: a phone call to eMattress results in obtaining a recycling RA (return authorization) number. EMattress will arrange for the pick up of the mattress and handle all the work. Customers are responsible for shipping and handling fees, but the consensus of early adopters is that this is a worthy investment in the environmental cause.

Studies have indicated that many local landfills receive as many as 300 old mattresses and box springs in one day. This is a vast amount of material which, if extended from head to toe in a line, would stretch for more than a third of a mile. One day’s worth of bedding is a lot; imagining years’ worth of this and it’s clear that a better solution to bedding disposal is necessary. Mattresses are bulky and difficult to recycle, but there are solutions available to the consumer.

EMattress has always used natural mattress covers, relying on materials such as 100% natural virgin Australian wool, which has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-dust mite properties; another material used in mattress covers, Innofa, is manufactured in part from natural bamboo. Not all companies operate with the environment firmly in mind, but eMattress has made the brave choice to forge ahead with its recycling program because it knows that its clientele already leans toward the green. EMattress is proud of its customers for being so environmentally aware, and it is proud of its ability to offer this extended service to loyal memory foam mattress users.

Source: eMattress, 11/08/07

Taking a nap may be good for your heart

The next time the boss finds you leaning back in your chair, feet up, eyes shut, tell her that you're napping for medical purposes.

Science won't definitively back you up yet, but the evidence is mounting that a short afternoon nap, for an otherwise well-rested, healthy person, is good for the heart.

"I love to nap," says Dr. Robert Downey III, chief of sleep medicine at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Southern California. "I recommend napping."

Among his fellow researchers, it's still controversial whether napping has cardiovascular benefits. Early studies of possible heart benefits of siestas in Mediterranean and Latin American countries, where short afternoon naps are typical, have had mixed results. But a recent large study of 23,000 people in Greece, published in the Feb. 12 Archives of Internal Medicine, showed a 37 percent reduction in heart attacks among people who napped at least three times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes. That study was the first to weed out sick and sedentary nappers and control for physical activity and diet, which might have colored results of other studies showing no benefit.

Now a study, in a recent online edition of the Journal of Applied Physiology, offers a clue about why a nap might be good.

The new study tested nine healthy volunteers who did not usually nap. After sleeping for four hours the night before, each was hooked up to check for blood pressure under three conditions. In two sessions the volunteers relaxed, one time standing and once lying down, but didn't sleep. In the third session, the subjects fell asleep for no more than an hour.

The researchers found a significant drop in blood pressure when the volunteers slept, but not when they merely relaxed. And the drop in blood pressure when they napped occurred in that sleepy window of time right before falling asleep, not during the nap itself.

It's the brief period of anticipation of the coming snooze where cardiovascular benefits take place. Just lying awake, even if relaxed, doesn't do the trick, says Greg Atkinson, chronobiologist with the Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences at Liverpool John Moores University and an author of the study.

That makes sense to Downey. "Anything you gain in [a restful state] would be magnified by going to sleep," he says. But he cautions that for a nap to result in increased alertness, it probably should last 20 to 30 minutes.

"With a light nap, you get that soothing, biological benefit, but you don't have to fight your way back to consciousness," he says. That's because brain waves slow considerably as you get drowsy, more so when you sleep. But after about 30 or 40 minutes, the brain goes into still-deeper sleep, and waking can make a person feel more groggy than rested.

Younger children, and adults who are sleep deprived, go into deeper states of sleep quicker, so a short nap for them might be more likely to result in a groggy awakening. And insomniacs are generally advised not to nap, Downey says, to give them a better shot at sleeping at night.

Inadequate sleep -- seven to eight hours is recommended for the average adult -- as well as disorders such as sleep apnea are pervasive in American society, and people who feel sleepy throughout the day should talk to their physician, says Michael Twery, director of the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research at the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. "If sleepiness is affecting what they do, controlling their lives, or if they wake up with morning headaches, maybe they need a medical evaluation," he says.

But for healthy people who get a good night's sleep, the human circadian clock is set to want a brief nap in the early afternoon. It feels good, and it just might be good for the heart, to indulge that post-lunch loss of energy. Go ahead. Put your feet up and close your eyes.

Source: Baltimore Sun, 11/1/07