Latex Mattresses: A Safer Alternative to a Memory
Foam Mattress
Did you know that natural latex foam mattresses, made from
the latex sap of the rubber tree, are a much safer alternative
to the popular memory foam mattresses? Memory foam
mattresses, like most commercially available mattresses, are
made from petroleum based polyurethane foam, an extremely
flammable material. Known as "solid gasoline" by firefighters,
the polyurethane foam in most commercially available
mattresses burns so furiously that strict new fire resistance
standards have been written into law, starting with California
in 2005 and going nationwide in 2006. These strict new fire
resistance standards are being met by tripling the amount of
fire retardant chemicals, called PDBEs, that are added to
manufacture memory foam mattresses and mattress toppers.
Most mattress purchasers are unaware of the fire danger
posed by polyurethane mattresses. But the greater danger
may be the higher concentrations of PDBEs used to help
prevent combustion in memory foam mattresses. PDBEs build
up in the body in ways similar to banned PCBs, and they have
been linked to cancer and other illnesses. PDBEs have already
been banned in Europe, but not in North America. Some
medical researchers believe that the extra load of PDBEs in
newly made mattresses will cause millions of cancer cases in
the coming decades. Because you lie directly on your mattress
for 8 hours every night, your body has its greatest contact
with the dangerous PDBEs while you sleep, and they pass
right through your skin.
The solution to the PDBE problem is to do what the Europeans
already do, sleep on natural latex mattresses. Natural latex
mattresses are made from the sap of the tropical rubber tree.
Natural latex foam does not burn well, and most natural latex
mattresses are also quilted with organic cotton and wool
which makes them very fire resistant, complying with all
current fire codes.
Latex foam comes in a variety of densities for different
firmness needs, and, unlike memory foam, it doesn't have to
heat up to cradle the body--the effect is immediate. Most
people find 100% natural latex foam mattresses to be
incredibly comfortable, relieving pressure points and improving
circulation. Another great characteristic of latex is its
durability. Latex mattresses have been known to last up to 30
years. Because of their resilience, latex mattresses do not
need to be turned like innerspring mattresses.
Because latex mattresses do not have innersprings, they
require a firmer foundation than the traditional boxsprings.
Latex mattresses can be used with a platform bed, a slat
foundation which looks like traditional boxsprings, but has
slats on the top, or a solid wood foundation, which also looks
like boxsprings but has a plywood top usually covered by
fabric.
Chemical-free natural latex mattresses are produced by a
number of North American manufacturers, the largest of which
are Vivetique - Crown City Mattress, located in South El
Monte, California, and Obasan, located in Ottawa, Canada.
There are also a number of European importers of natural
latex foam mattresses, the biggest of which is Green Sleep
from Belgium.
Retailers of natural latex mattresses include a variety of local
mattress stores who carry products from these
manufacturers. There are also nationwide web retailers, like
Dax Stores, which usually have the best prices for these
natural latex mattresses.
Mark Sweiger (msweiger@NOSPAMearthlink.net) is a freelance reporter
on home and garden topics and ecological news. He recommends that
you protect your health by sleeping on <a
href="http://www.daxstores.com/latex-mattresses.html">latex
mattresses</a>.
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