Why an Organic Mattress?

Source Purerest.com

Because according to the health experts; your health depends on it!

I always new that aside from sleeping next to my dear husband, I was laying on top of pesky little creatures called 'dust mites' like everyone else...right?

Well what I didn't know is that aside from those disgusting bugs that poop, lay their eggs, die and fall apart in our mattresses, there are 'Fire Retardents' and other chemicals as well.

Fire Retardents contain 'PBDE's (polybrominated diphenyl ethers)'...if you Google it you will find TONS of info on it but in a nut shell...here's what I have found out...

The Environmental Working Group reports the following:

Polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) are a class of toxic chemicals in wide use to prevent the spread of fire and are likely to be found in dozens of products in your home, from the padding below your carpet, to your bed, couch or television screen. They are most commonly found in polyurethane foam products and electronics.Polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) are a class of toxic chemicals in wide use to prevent the spread of fire and are likely to be found in dozens of products in your home, from the padding below your carpet, to your bed, couch or television screen. They are most commonly found in polyurethane foam products and electronics.

and even more disturbing:

Chemicals from fire retardants used in many household products, from carseats and mattresses to computers and curling irons, concentrate in higherlevels (up to 3x) in the bodies of young children than in their mothers, according to a study released this month by an environmental group. Scientists from the Environmental Working Group in Washington, D.C., evaluated 20 mothers and their children, ages 1½ to 4, from around the nation. The chemicals were about three times higher in the youngsters'bloodstreams, said Dr. Anila Jacob, one of the study's authors.

OK, so now that we know what we know, what do we do about it?
You have 2 choices:

1- Get rid of your old mattress (and the chemicals and the bugs) and get a 'natural latex made from the rubber tree' mattress in which the casing is all organic cotton and wool (which by the way; wool is a natural fire retardent); or

2- Get a 'barrier cover' that you can zip up your existing mattress in.

A barrier cover won't protect against any chemical off-gasing but it will protect you against the dust mites. The reason being is that dust mites are about 100 microns and a barrier cover is a high 440 thread count SKAL certified organic cotton fabric that is then heat pressed to tighten the fibers to a 6 micron opening - recommended to protect against dust mites debris.

Sorry if I grossed you out :)

Have a Green Day!

Mylene