Toxic Chemicals in Pet Bedding
For anyone with a beloved furry friend, we all know just how much our pets feel like members of our family. Many of us are vigilant about various aspects of our pet’s health such as their food, exercise, and supplements but perhaps we haven’t considered the ways our pets may be exposed to toxicants in our homes. Just as harmful substances are found in many human mattresses and beds, similar harmful substances are common in pet beds. In truth, a nontoxic bed for your pet matters to all the members of your family as it not only affects your pet—it affects you and everyone else in your home, including children, by way of its impact on indoor air quality. By knowing some of the potentially harmful things to look out for, you can find options that safeguard the health of not only your pet, but your whole family.
Ingredients of Concern
Some chemicals of concern that commonly show up in pet beds are:
Flame Retardants – Found in polyurethane foam (or memory foam), which is commonly used as the cushion part of many pet beds. Flame retardants, such as organophosphorus and halogenated flame retardants, are added to the foam because the foam is derived from fossil fuels and is, therefore, highly flammable and burns rapidly. The specific harmful impacts vary based upon the variety of chemicals used, but certain flame retardants have been associated with fertility issues [1] , endocrine disruption [2] , lower IQ [3] , hyperactivity [4] , thyroid dysfunction [5] , and cancer [6] .
Finally, the efficacy of flame retardants has been a subject of debate, with some claiming that flame retardants do not provide a substantial enough increase in time to exit a burning building [7] in order to justify the widespread use of this harmful group of chemicals. Once on fire, products containing flame retardants may release high levels of toxic chemicals into the smoke [8] , thus creating an additional occupational hazard for firefighters [9] . It is also worth noting that, when used properly, natural materials like wool and cotton can meet national flammability standards in the US without the use of chemical flame retardants.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – PFAS are a group of thousands of substances utilized for their ability to repel liquid and, therefore, stains. This group of chemicals has been associated with numerous detrimental effects including cancer [10] and endocrine disruption [11] . They are also considered persistent pollutants [12] , meaning that they do not break down in the environment, and thus stick around indefinitely. These ubiquitous “forever chemicals” have also been known to build up in the human body, as one 2007 study found PFOA (a type of PFAS chemical) in the blood of 99.7 percent of Americans. [13]
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) — Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs as they are commonly called, are chemicals – natural or synthetic -- that can easily become a gas. The flame retardant chemicals mentioned above can contain VOCs. These gaseous VOCs are typically invisible to the naked eye and are incredibly common in indoor environments. VOCs can be emitted from polyurethane foam in mattresses and other furniture like dog beds. The concerns with VOCs are broad due to this large class of chemicals, but common harmful impacts include mucous membrane irritation, headaches, loss of coordination, liver damage, kidney damage, central nervous system damage, and cancer [14] .
Tips for Choosing Better Pet Beds
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Look for pet beds made with natural materials such as organic cotton, hemp, or linen fibers.
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Bypass beds made with toxic polyurethane foam or memory foam, which are petroleum-derived products and are not sustainable. Search instead for natural alternatives such as quality latex.
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Shop for bedding options that forgo the unnecessary chemical flame retardant treatments. An easy way to do this is to choose natural foam-feeling materials like latex instead of polyurethane foam, which is a common source of VOCs and almost always treated with flame retardant chemicals.
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Avoid beds and bed covers that may have been treated with PFAS or other chemicals by steering clear of claims like “no wrinkle” or “stain resistant.” Instead, opt for natural fibers with washable covers.
References
[1] Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) concentration in house dust are related to hormone levels in men.John D. Meeker, Paula I. Johnson, David Camann, Russ Hauser. (2009, May 1). Science Direct. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969709000710
[2] Accumulation and Edocrine Disrupting Effects of the Flame Retardant Mixture Firemaster 550 in Rats: An exploratory Assessment. Heather B. Patisaul, Simon C. Roberts, Natalie Mabrey, Kathrine A. McCaffrey, Robin B. Gear, Joe Braun, Scott M. Belcher, Heather M. Stapleton. (2012, November 8). Wiley Online Journal. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969709000710
[3] In utero and childhood polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) exposures and neurodevelipment in the CHAMACOS study. Brenda Eskenazi, Jonathan Chevrier, Stephen A. Rauch, Katherine Kogut, Kim G Harley, Caroline Johnson, Celina Trujillo, Andreas Sjodin, Asa Bradman. (2012, November 15). National Library of Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23154064/
[4] Prenatal exposure to organohalogens, including brominated flame retardants, influences motor, cognitive, and bahvioral performance at school. Roze E, Meijer L, Bakker A, Van Braekel KN, Sauer PJ, Bos AF. (2009 August 31). Europe PMC. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/2799472 .
[5] Rodent Thryoid, Liver, Fetal Testis Toxicity of the Monoester Metabolite of Bis-(2-ethylhexyl) Tetrabromophthalate (TBPH) a Novel Brominated Flame Retardant Present in Indoor Dust. Cecilia Springer, Edward Dere, Susan J. Hall, Elizabeth V. MacDonnell, Simon C. Roberts, Craig M. Butt, Heather M. Stapleton, Deborah J. Watkins, Micheal D McClean, Thomas F. Webster, Jennifer J. Schlezinger, Kim Boekelheide. (2012, December). Environmental Health Perspectives. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23014847/
[6] Tris (1, 3- dichloro- 2- propyl) Phosphate (TDCPP).(2012, June 1). Califronia Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/chemicals/tris13-dichloro-2-propyl-phosphate-tdcpp
[7] New Warning to Consumers Avoid These Flame Retardants. Jeneen Interlandi. (2017, September 29). Consumer Reports. https://www.consumerreports.org/toxic-chemicals-substances/avoid-these-flame-retardants-cpsc-warning/
[8] Flame retardants in UK furniture increase Smoke toxicity more than they reduce fire growth rate. Sean T. McKenna, Robert Birtles, Kathryn Dickens, Richard G. Walker, Micheal J. Spearpoint, Anna A. Stec, T. Richard Hull. (2017, December 17). Science Direct. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653517319781 .
[9] Characterizing exposures to flame retardants, dioxins, and furans among firefighters responding controlled residential fires.Alexander C Mayer, Kennth W Fent, I-Chen Chen, Deborah Sammons, Christine Toennis, Shirley Robertson, Steve Kerber, Gavin P Horn, Denise L Smith, Anotnia M Calafat, Maria Ospina, Andreas Sjodin. (@021 July). National Library of Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34119852/
[10] PFAS Forever Chemicals (also PFOA, PFOS). Breast Cancer Prevention Partners. https://www.bcpp.org/resource/pfas-forever-chemicals-pfoa-pfos/
[11] Count Down. Shanna H Swan. (2021, February 23). Scribner. https://www.shannaswan.com/countdown
[12] Perfluorooctanioc Acid (PFOA) Perflueorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Related Chemicals). American Cencer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/chemicals/teflon-and-perfluorooctanoic-acid-pfoa.html
[13] Polyfluoroalkyl Chemicals in the U.S. Population: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003- 2004 and Comparisons with NHANES 1999-2000. Anotnia M Calafat, Lee-Yang Wong, Zsuzsanna Kyklenyik, John A Reidy, Larry L. Needham. (2007, August 29). National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2072821/
[14] Volatile Organic Compounds’ Impact on Indoor Air Quality.United States Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality#Health_Effects
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