Are there harmful chemicals in memory foam

Some memory foam mattress users complain of waking with headaches. Others develop respiratory issues such as asthma. Still, others have concerns about the long-term health effects of years of nightly exposure to this material. It's not certain what risk every individual might encounter. But what you can do is use the information available about memory foam to make the best possible decision. Evaluating risk is something that we do every day, whether we are crossing the street or choosing foods to buy at the supermarket.

Your mattress choice is the same thing. It was not regulated by OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administrations , even though it is well known that it can be dangerous when combined with other chemicals. Some of the isocyanates found in memory foam mattresses can cause harm to the skin. These can also cause respiration problems. Isocyanate compounds irritate skin and are harmful to human health. These volatile organic compounds make their way in almost all manufactured household products, including carpets, furniture and of course mattresses and even pillows.

Go figure. Duke University completed clinical evaluations researched certain components used in memory foams. Those included isocyanates. The isocyanate compounds researched were acetone, benzene, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, methylene chloride and 1,1,1 -trichloroethane. What they discovered was that even the brief exposure caused damage. Even the minimal amount of toxicity of these compounds causes asthmatic attacks. Diisocyanates are also found as ingredients that increase flame resistance in foam mattresses.

They are highly reactive compounds. In their raw forms, these can cause respiratory and skin damage. During the manufacturing process, many compounds mix together. Diisocyanates react with polyols to produce the flexible memory foam. Polyols are binding compounds that are essential to creating the polyurethane foam. Most of the materials go through the off-gassing phase during the time of their use. So, this is when side effects of the use of toxic compounds start to show. Especially on the health of the more sensitive individuals.

People with the weaker immune system are first to show symptoms. During the home use, these substances can release their gaseous compound derivatives.

This causes the appearance of bad odors and obnoxious smell during use. Not to mention the harm that these gases cause to the lungs and the rest of the respiratory system. Chemical breaking down of volatile organic compounds causes a toxic buildup in humans.

This can have serious consequences for human health. These byproducts get dispersed into the air of the bedroom and can build up. This causes harm to breathing and induces many allergic reactions. These unstable substances are the main cause for the rapid degradation of health. Even though VOCs are more stable in finished products such as memory foam they can still release.

This happens only in certain conditions during use. They are usually detected by strong odor found in the air around the products.

Usually from those made from polyurethane. A popular substitute is natural latex, a material derived from the sap of rubber trees that is breathable, durable, and more bouncy than memory foam.

More rarely, some hybrid beds may combine an innerspring core with naturally derived comfort layers made of wool, cotton batting, or feathers. Lauren is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with extensive experience researching and testing a wide variety of sleep products.

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Our editors and medical experts rigorously evaluate every article and guide to ensure the information is factual, up-to-date, and free of bias. Updated May 14, Written by Lauren Fountain. Is Memory Foam Toxic? What Is Memory Foam? However, virtually all flexible polyurethane foams contain a few basic ingredients: Polyols are the basic building blocks of memory foam.

These are molecules that contain more than one alcohol chemical group, called a hydroxyl group. Polyols are organic compounds and can be found in everything from sugar to plastic. Diisocyanates are a type of chemical compound that chemically reacts with polymers to produce polyurethane foam.

Toluene diisocyanate TDI and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate MDI are the most common diisocyanates used in memory foam. Blowing agents are used to help create the chemical reaction that makes the foam. Most current companies use water, which is less toxic than traditional chemical-based blowing agents. Potentially Toxic Materials Used in Memory Foam Common harmful chemicals that were historically found in memory foam mattresses include: Methylbenzene: Methylbenzene, more commonly known as toluene , is a clear liquid that occurs naturally in crude oil.

Toluene is toxic when inhaled in large quantities. Formaldehyde : Formaldehyde sometimes results as a by-product of the foam manufacturing process, though this is much less common nowadays.

Formaldehyde fumes can irritate the eyes, nose and mouth, and it is known to be a human carcinogen. Methylene Dianiline: Used as a reactant in the foam manufacturing process, methylene dianiline causes irritation when coming into contact with skin, and may be carcinogenic. Methylene Chloride: Formerly used as a blowing agent, this substance is a suspected carcinogen and can pose serious health risks if it comes into contact to the skin or mucous membranes.

Chlorofluorocarbons : Chlorofluorocarbons were formerly used as a blowing agent, but use of these substances is now limited because of their ozone-depleting effects. Flame Retardants in Mattresses By law, all mattresses must have some kind of fire barrier. Is Memory Foam Safe? Was this article helpful? Yes No. Learn more about Mattress Information.

Do You Need a Box Spring? All mattresses must contain a fireguard to meet federal flammability standards. They just had foam layers on top of coils… Buyer beware. We finally found and bought C. Rogers mattresses, which are completely clean of toxins and incredibly comfortable. With that, we thank you for sharing your experience for other readers! So I just went to a foam co and am having a mattress made. Really considering calling them tomorrow to cancel order.

Any opinions? Your email address will not be published. The EachNight writing team is devoted to creating articles that are not only entertaining and easy to understand but also as impartial, accurate, and well-sourced as possible. Whenever possible, we strive to have our articles fact-checked by our independent review board.

We also do not tolerate plagiarism or ill intent from our contributors. Our writers are sleep coaches certified by the Spencer Institute , which has been training coaches since Becoming a certified sleep coach means that our writers are well-versed in various sleep science matters, taking us beyond being just a group of mattress reviewers.

Mattress Resources. What is Memory Foam? Polyols Polyols come from petroleum, and when they react with isocyanates, polyurethane foam is created. Carbon-based blowing agents Blowing agents are used in the process of converting liquid to foam.

Other Memory Foam Byproducts Memory foam mattresses can contain other materials that may be harmful to the user. Dimethylformamide Dimethylformamide is a solvent used for chemical reactions.

What about VOCs? The following are the most common foam mattress certifications:. About the author Kiera Pritchard. Find more articles by Kiera. Comments Leave a comment. Lisa Randazzo July 7, at pm.