(Newswire.net — June 6, 2013) Santa Fe, New Mexico — Wonder why your conventional mattress bought after 2007 stinks and out gasses chemicals that make your eyes itch and makes you feel congested? By law, mattresses have to pass a flame test and the chemical industry has a hold on this big time.
The new flameproof mattress regulation (July-07 National, Jan-05 California) requires all mattresses now withstand a severe open flame test. With the new flameproof mattress regulation all mattresses now contain toxic chemicals as flame-retardants. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission set this standard.
The good news is, are you ready? The campaign to get toxic flame-retardants out of our homes has officially begun! Washington State and at least 14 other states are considering legislation to ban the use of certain flame retardant chemicals such as chlorinated Tris in furniture and baby products. Well, this is a start with Thirty-six states to go.
What is a consumer to do? They need to sleep on something without posing a risk to their health. People are clamoring for safe and clean sleeping mats, mattresses and many are returning to the traditional futon as an alternative. But even commercially made futons are required to complete a flame retardant test.
Commonly, manufacturers are using Borates as a flame retardant. This powder is dusted into the cotton batting and is approximately 1/10 % of the total weight. Borates are ubiquitous in nature. Borates are natural substances that have been used for decades in such things as glass making. Laundry detergents and even contact lens solutions. We even ingest borates through our foods. In comparison, exposure to borates in mattresses is even lower than a dietary intact or borates in commercial products.
Borates are not toxic at the levels found in futons. Borates are classified as having “low acute toxicity” – which means they are about as toxic as table salt.. Parents are particularly happy to buy a futon for their child. Mothers and fathers buy a little piece-of-mind knowing that their children are not breathing in chemicals that effect the development of the brain and nervous system.
Northern Naturals cares about being part of the solution. The futons sold by Northern Naturals meet such regulatory laws, and both the Classic and the Premium Futons are made with borates dusted into the cotton batting. They are odorless and are safe for people who have sensitivities to harmful out-gassing of chemicals from conventional mattresses.
Northern Naturals online store is now is in its 15th year. This company provides excellent products in the natural and organic bedding industry from futons and pure latex mattress toppers to wool mattress pads, 100% cotton rugs, and buckwheat hull pillows. You can find these all on line at www.northernnaturals.com.