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Thanks to 1973 U.S. law decreeing that all mattresses must meet requirements for cigarette-ignition, most conventional mattresses are treated with toxic fire-retardant chemicals that pose significant potential health risks. The most common class of fire retardants are the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which are widely used in polyurethane foam and other plastics.
PBDEs are kissing cousins to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which have been banned for nearly 30 years because they can cause immune suppression, endocrine disruption, behavioral problems, and cancer-and that's just for starters, according to a 2005 report by the Environment California Research & Policy Center (ECRPC), which also noted that exposure to PBDEs may be especially detrimental to infants and fetuses. On the upside, in August 2003, California outlawed the sale of penta- and octa- PBDE and products containing them. In April 2007, Washington became the first state in the nation to ban PBDEs. The following month, legislature of the state of Maine passed a bill phasing out the use of DecaBDE.
Then again, PBDEs aren't the only thing you need to worry about: The off-gassing of other toxic chemicals, such as formaldehyde (found in chemicals used for stain or water resistance) and toluene (a neurotoxin and an industrial solvent), can cause upper respiratory problems and skin irritation.
To keep your baby's environment as pure as possible, Dierdre Dolan and Alexandra Zissu, authors of The Complete Organic Pregnancy (2006, Collins) recommend purchasing an untreated cotton mattress (organic, if you can afford it), a natural latex one, or some combination of the two. If possible, say Dolan and Zissu, find one wrapped in unbleached wool, which is naturally fire- and moisture-retardant.
Tip: If allergies are a concern, you can also invest in an allergen-barrier encasement or barrier cloth for your mattress to help keep dust mites away. Avoid PVC like the plague, however.
Here are some places where you can find organic cotton crib mattresses and futons:
1. A Natural Home
2. Abundant Earth
3. A Happy Planet
4. EcoChoices
5. Naturepedic
Difficulty level: Easy to moderate
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