Off Gassing of Organic Mattresses
Off gassing of organic mattresses can cause headaches, dizziness, and upset stomach. It can also increase the levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in your house. Even infants are susceptible to respiratory wheezing caused by this chemical. For this reason, many people choose to opt for mattresses that are free from VOCs. However, before choosing a mattress, it’s important to know its safety measures.
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Off-gassing of organic mattresses can cause headaches, dizziness, and upset stomach
Off-gassing is an inevitable part of the mattress manufacturing process. The smell is most often caused by adhesive and foam elements. VOCs (volatile organic compounds) can be harmful to your health but most are harmless. You may experience coughing or throat irritation if you are exposed to off-gassing. People with respiratory problems or chemical sensitivities should avoid these mattresses. Headaches and dizziness may also result.
Although studies have shown that exposure to VOCs during off-gassing is harmless for healthy adults, a few studies have shown that it increases the risk of some types of cancer. Continuous exposure to VOCs is linked to damage to the central nervous system, liver, and kidneys. Some people prefer to sleep on mattresses with low off-gassing because it is healthier for them.
Some organic mattresses contain materials that give off a chemical odor. These include glue, latex, and memory foam. The glues used to make these materials are not biodegradable and can irritate the respiratory tract and cause asthma and headaches. In addition, some mattress materials have adhesives that cause off-gassing. Natural latex, on the other hand, is completely VOC-free and does not contain any glue.
According to Kurt Rhoads, an assistant professor at Case Western Reserve University, off-gassing from new mattresses can lead to an unpleasant odor. This chemical has nowhere to go, so when it’s inhaled for too long, it can cause headaches, dizziness, and even nausea. Some individuals may even feel nauseous, vomiting, or dizzy.
If you can’t resist off-gassing from organic mattresses, you should try to leave them outside. It will help reduce the duration of the process. However, make sure to keep the mattress out of direct sunlight and away from rain. If the problem is not solved, you may want to sprinkle baking soda on your mattress before you sleep. Baking soda has natural deodorizing properties and can help get rid of chemical smells.
Although some manufacturers state that they can use their mattresses immediately, this is not recommended. It is possible to experience headaches, dizziness, or upset stomach while off-gassing from an organic mattress. Although it’s not a serious health hazard, it can cause headaches, nausea, and upset stomach. So make sure you let the mattress air out before sleeping.
Another chemical commonly found in mattresses is benzene. This chemical is found in many types of mattresses, including memory foam and polyurethane foam. Benzene can cause headaches, dizziness, and an upset stomach. Benzene is known to damage the cells of your body, which is why it’s not safe to sleep on one. Benzene can even cause anemia. It also has other negative effects, including headaches and anemia.
It can increase the level of VOCs in the house
Volatile organic compounds are chemical compounds that are present in many household products. These chemicals have a long-lasting smell and can be highly irritating to people with allergies. These compounds are carbon-based and are found in air and water at levels two to one thousand times higher than the average outdoor level. Indoor air can contain as many as 50 different types of VOCs.
Typically, the amount of VOCs released by organic mattresses in the home can increase the level of VOCs in a house ten-fold. Because we spend a majority of the night sleeping, we are exposed to these chemicals in high concentrations. Likewise, infants spend more than twelve hours per day in close contact with VOCs, which is especially concerning when the house is hot and humid.
Although this issue is a hot-button topic, it is generally short-term and harmless if you are not exposed to it long-term. Exposure to VOCs from mattresses is often mildly irritating, but there is no scientific proof that it poses any health risks. Some people are affected by the smell, which can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, and eye irritation.
Many manufacturers claim that polyols and isocyanates, two common VOCs in mattresses, are no longer volatile. While these substances aren’t volatile, they do emit particles into the air. In addition to this, polyurethane foam mattresses are particularly notorious for off gassing, which causes the level of VOCs in the house to increase.
While you may be thinking that buying an organic mattress is the best option for your home, you should keep in mind that off gassing can affect the air quality of the entire house. Organic mattresses should not be stored in plastic containers, as these contain VOCs. Also, do not buy a gallon of paint stripper. The same holds true for cleaning sprays and air fresheners.
While organic mattresses do not produce high levels of VOCs, some mattresses are known to emit higher levels than conventional ones. You can avoid this problem by purchasing an organic mattress if you can find one that is GREENGUARD Gold certified. This means that the mattress contains less than one percent VOCs per square foot. Ultimately, you can make an informed decision by educating yourself about the best mattresses for your needs.
In order to decrease the amount of VOCs in your house, it is important to wait a couple of days for your new mattress to fully air out. Using a regular mattress cover will not give you enough protection. A thicker, non-toxic mattress cover is recommended. This way, the mattress does not have as much time to off gas as other products.
It can cause respiratory wheezing in infants
The debate over whether off-gassing of organic mattresses can cause respiratory whingeing in infants has raged for years, with many arguing that there is no scientific basis for this. But in the case of off-gassing, it is very different from breathing in more than 70 carcinogenic chemicals each day, or being worried about the odor of a mattress. And even if there were a scientific basis for this concern, if there are no studies, then it is difficult to attribute the problem to a mattress.
If you are concerned about off-gassing, it’s a good idea to store your new mattress outside for a few days to let it get rid of its off-gassing smell. If your mattress comes packaged in a box, you’ll have to unfold it. If it comes in a traditional box, you’ll need to remove the plastic and unfold it. Then, put it in a room with good ventilation. If possible, open a window.
Research shows that off-gassing of baby mattresses is linked to SIDS. It’s difficult to know exactly how many chemicals a baby will be exposed to on a daily basis, but the effects are worrying. Infants spend about half their day asleep in their cribs, so sleeping on a mattress that releases toxic chemicals is not healthy for them. That’s especially true for premature infants.
In a study conducted by researchers at the University of Texas, they analyzed twenty crib mattresses made of polyester foam and polyurethane foam. They placed each mattress sample in a chamber and measured the amount of VOCs that each was releasing into the room during sleep. Based on these results, the researchers estimated that infants were exposed to eight mg of VOCs per kilogram of body weight per day from their mattresses, which is about the same exposure as they would be under real-world conditions.
Another problem with off-gassing is the odor of the mattress. Certain chemicals released into the air while sleeping may trigger an allergy attack in a person with severe allergies. When the chemicals are released into the air, they have nowhere to go, and the odor can cause respiratory wheezing in infants. A new mattress smell can cause nausea or vomiting. It’s crucial to avoid these chemicals and find a mattress made of organic materials.
Off-gassing of organic mattresses is not dangerous for the average person, but it is important for those with respiratory conditions and those who are very sensitive to VOCs. While off-gassing in organic mattresses isn’t life-threatening, it can have serious side effects in infants, so it is wise to choose the right mattress for your child. And if possible, always choose a mattress that has been certified by a reputable company.