Toxic Chemicals in Mattresses
The manufacturing and use of conventional mattresses can pose both human health and environmental concerns. Chemicals used in mattress materials, such as the lining or inner filling, can leach into the air and our bodies over time, which is significant considering how much time humans spend in bed. Many of the chemicals commonly used in mattresses are harmful to our ecosystems, but mattresses further pose an environmental concern due to the fact that they are difficult to recycle and, thus, contribute to crowded landfills or illegal dumping [1] .
A 2025 study found that many brand-new mattresses were emitting elevated levels of semi volatile and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including ortho-phthalates, organophosphate esters, benzophenones, and salicylates, which are used as flame retardants, plasticizers, and UV-filters [2] . Limits on VOC emission from consumer products has been legislated in Europe since 2014, but current standards for U.S. manufacturers are sparse, with various voluntary certification programs serving as the only meaningful source of standards and guidance [3] .
Polyurethane foam, another common material used in mattresses is very flammable and thus is often accompanied by protective flame-retardant additions, which have been associated with a number of health risks to consumers [4] .
Ingredients of Concern
Some ingredients of concern that commonly show up in mattresses are:
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – Mattresses have been found to emit many types of volatile organic compounds (commonly abbreviated as VOCs), which are a group of airborne chemicals affecting indoor air quality and posing potential health risks [5] . A 2021 study found that mattresses frequently emitted high concentrations of 2-ethyl-1-hexanoic acid, which has been shown to cause eye, nose, and throat irritation in humans and animals [6][7] . VOCs have also been observed leaching from crib mattresses , which are of heightened concern because babies have an increased breathing rate compared to adults and spend many hours sleeping [8] . Many of these harmful VOCs come from polyurethane foam, which is a popular filler material in mattresses. High levels of N,N-dimethylformamide emission have also been found, of which short- and long-term exposure can be damaging to the skin, liver, spleen, lungs, heart, and nervous system [9][10] .
Flame Retardants – The use of flame retardant chemicals in mattresses is routine due to the regular use of highly flammable materials, such as polyurethane foam, in their construction. Manufacturers gravitate towards fire retarding substances as an attempt at a solution to slow the burning of the foam in the event of a fire. Fiberglass—also known as man-made vitreous fibers—is sometimes utilized as a flame retardant material in mattresses and covers and has been found to migrate to the surface of mattresses which can then become airborne or come into contact with skin [11] . Fiberglass is a lung, nose, and throat irritant and can lead to asthma, especially in children [12] . Although there has been a decrease in the usage of fiberglass in mattresses in recent years, it can still be found in a number of products. Organophosphate esters, also used as a flame retardant in mattresses, are associated with thyroid problems in pregnant women and fetuses [13] . Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) and halogenated flame retardants (such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers, also known as PBDEs) have also been associated with developmental toxicity, reproductive harm, and neurodevelopmental toxicity [14] . Other health risks associated with flame retardants include diabetes, neurobehavioral and developmental disorders, cancer, and reproductive health effects [15] .
A looming question over the discussion of chemical flame retardants relates to their efficacy. While flame retardant applications to mattresses and other furniture marginally reduce the burn rate, their presence significantly increases the quantities of toxicants found in the smoke in the case of a fire [16][17] . The use of these chemicals on mattresses and furniture, as well as on some firefighter gear, poses an occupational hazard to firefighters, who are exposed when the toxic chemicals are released into the smoke in the event of a fire [18][19] . While it is possible to meet flammability standards for mattresses in the U.S. without the use of chemical flame retardants, the use of this chemical flame retardants remains widespread practice.
Vinyl – Vinyl is sometimes used as a waterproof mattress covering and is a known endocrine disruptor [20] . Vinyl and similar plasticizers used in mattress production usually contain phthalates, which are associated with reproductive health problems, fetal abnormalities, diabetes, and are bad for environmental health when accumulating in air and water [21][22] .
Tips for Choosing Better Mattresses
- Shop for mattresses and bedding materials with the MADE SAFE® seal.
- Look for mattresses made from natural, safe materials like wool, organic cotton, and latex.
- Avoid polyurethane foam, even if advertised as “plant-based” polyurethane, as the material is derived from fossil fuels and is therefore both highly flammable and detrimental to the environment. Polyurethane foam tends to be treated with flame retardant chemicals and will off-gas VOCs.
- Skip vinyl coated mattresses and mattress protectors. Better waterproofing material alternatives are polypropylene or polylactic acid (PLA).
- If you’re not in a position to replace your mattress, add additional barriers between you and the mattress, such as pillows, sheets, or mattress covers made from safer materials, such as MADE SAFE Certified bedding, pillows, and bedding protectors .
References
[1] Barner, L., Herbst, J., O'Shea, M., Speight, R., Mansfield, K., & Zhang, Z. (2021). Mattress Recycling Scoping Study. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/213747/.
[2] Vaezafshar, S., Wolk, S., Simpson, K., Akhbarizadeh, R., Blum, A., Jantunen, L. M., & Diamond, M. L. (2025). Are Sleeping Children Exposed to Plasticizers, Flame Retardants, and UV-Filters from Their Mattresses?. Environmental Science & Technology 59(16), 7909-7918.
[3] European Commission. (2014). Commission Decision 2014/391/EU of 23 June 2014 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for bed mattresses (consolidated version as of 18 July 2022). Official Journal of the European Union, L 183. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02014D0391-20220718.
[4] Morgan, A. B. (2021). Revisiting flexible polyurethane foam flammability in furniture and bedding in the United States. Fire and materials, 45(1), 68-80.
[5] Oz, K., Merav, B., Sara, S., and Yael, D. (2019). Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Polyurethane Mattresses under Variable Environmental Conditions. Environmental Science & Technology 53 (15), 9171-9180.
[6] Oshima, N., Tahara, M., Sakai, S., & Ikarashi, Y. (2021). Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted from Bedding Products. BPB Reports, 4(6), 182-192.
[7] Wakayama, T., Ito, Y., Sakai, K., Miyake, M., Shibata, E., Ohno, H., & Kamijima, M. (2019). Comprehensive review of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol as an indoor air pollutant. Journal of Occupational Health 61(1), 19-35.
[8] Boor, B. E., Järnström, H., Novoselac, A., & Xu, Y. (2014). Infant exposure to emissions of volatile organic compounds from crib mattresses. Environmental Science & Technology 48(6), 3541-3549.
[9] Kim, K. H., Pandey, S. K., Kim, Y. H., Sohn, J. R., and Oh, J. M. (2015). Emissions of Amides (N,N-Dimethylformamide and Formamide) and Other Obnoxious Volatile Organic Compounds from Different Mattress Textile Products. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 114, 350– 356.
[10] Hong, S. J., Zhang, X. N., Sun, Z., & Zeng, T. (2024). The potential health risks of N, N‐dimethylformamide: An updated review. Journal of Applied Toxicology 44(11), 1637-1646.
[11] Wagner, J., Fowles, J., & Barreau, T. (2022). Fiberglass and Other Flame-Resistant Fibers in Mattress Covers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19(3), 1695.
[12] NIOSH. Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Fibrous Glass—DHHS (NIOSH) No. 77. 1997. Available online: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/77-152/default.html.
[13] Yao, Y., Li, M., Pan, L., Duan, Y., Duan, X., Li, Y., & Sun, H. (2021). Exposure to organophosphate ester flame retardants and plasticizers during pregnancy: Thyroid endocrine disruption and mediation role of oxidative stress. Environment International 146, 106215.
[14] Blum, A., Behl, M., Birnbaum, L., Diamond, M. L., Phillips, A., Singla, V., Sipes, N. S., Stapleton, H. M., & Venier, M. (2019, November 12). Organophosphate ester flame retardants: Are they a regrettable substitution for polybrominated diphenyl ethers?. PubMed Central. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7269169/.
[15] Harris, D., Davis, A., Ryan, P. B., Cohen, J., Gandhi, P., Dubiel, D., & Black, M. (2021). Chemical exposure and flammability risks of upholstered furniture. Fire and materials 45(1), 167-180.
[16] Shaw SD, Blum A, Weber R, Kannan K, Rich D, Lucas D, Koshland CP, Dobraca D, Hanson S, Birnbaum LS. Halogenated flame retardants: do the fire safety benefits justify the risks? Rev Environ Health. 2010 Oct-Dec;25(4):261-305. doi: 10.1515/reveh.2010.25.4.261. PMID: 21268442.
[17] McKenna ST, Birtles R, Dickens K, Walker RG, Spearpoint MJ, Stec AA, Hull TR. Flame retardants in UK furniture increase smoke toxicity more than they reduce fire growth rate. Chemosphere. 2018 Apr;196:429-439. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.12.017. Epub 2017 Dec 5. PMID: 29324384.
[18] Alexander BM, Baxter CS. Flame-retardant contamination of firefighter personal protective clothing - A potential health risk for firefighters. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2016 Sep;13(9):D148-55. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2016.1183016. PMID: 27171467.
[19] Mayer AC, Fent KW, Chen IC, Sammons D, Toennis C, Robertson S, Kerber S, Horn GP, Smith DL, Calafat AM, Ospina M, Sjodin A. Characterizing exposures to flame retardants, dioxins, and furans among firefighters responding to controlled residential fires. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2021 Jul;236:113782. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113782. Epub 2021 Jun 10. PMID: 34119852; PMCID: PMC8325627.
[20] Dodson, R. E., Nishioka, M., Standley, L. J., Perovich, L. J., Brody, J. G., & Rudel, R. A. (2012). Endocrine disruptors and asthma-associated chemicals in consumer products. Environmental health perspectives, 120(7), 935-943.
[21] Tomsho, K. S., Quinn, M. R., Adamkiewicz, G., & James-Todd, T. (2024). Development of a phthalate environmental reproductive health literacy (PERHL) scale. Environmental Health Perspectives 132(4), 047013.
[22] Li, L., Guo, Z., Deng, R., Fan, T., Dong, D., Dai, Y., & Li, C. (2024). The concentrations and behavior of classic phthalates and emerging phthalate alternatives in different environmental matrices and their biological health risks. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 31(34), 46790-46805.
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