Recently, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) passed a new federal law requiring mattresses to be even more fire-resistant. The CPSC estimates that by allowing people more time to escape the fire, the new mattress standard should annually save an estimated 270 lives and prevent 1,330 injuries. The man who wrote the law later realized a small problem: the only chemicals that can be applied to mattresses to achieve compliance are listed as toxic to humans by the EPA.
With Americans spending a third of their lives lying on a mattress, these chemicals could potentially harm more people than they save. This is especially relevant where children are concerned. Their small bodies metabolize things differently and they may be affected more seriously. The new federal standard for mattresses goes into effect on July 1, 2007. To protect your family, you can buy a chemical-free bed. Look for beds made of natural latex, wool, and organic cotton. The wool provides some flame resistance naturally, and natural latex is very supportive. Some of your local mattress companies may supply them, and natural beds abound on the Internet. After the law is enacted, you'll need to supply a doctor's prescription to get a chemical-free mattress.
