Disturbing reports are linking memory foam mattresses to dangerous health conditions, even fatalities. Find out why -- and what you can do about it.

Most mattresses do contain toxins. The difference is, memory foam mattresses are made mostly from chemicals never tested on humans.

And while data on memory foam is scarce, many people have been complaining of sore throat, fatigue, headache, bloody nose, diarrhea, nausea, sweating, swollen red and itchy eyes, even heart attack-like symptoms -- all within a few days of purchasing memory foam. Even pets experience these physical side-effects. Manufacturers do warn customers that memory foam emits a chemical (but temporary) odor, which some find "unpleasant," but reports have shown people getting very sick from it.

No doubt about it, memory foam mattresses are comfy. They're firm, conform to the shape of your body while you sleep and supposedly contain dust-mite resistance material (allegedly great for kids with asthma). But disturbing reports have emerged on the dangerous health hazards of memory foam -- especially for children.

Your basic mattress is made of latex, air, water and various natural and chemical fibers. But memory foam mattresses are made from polyurethane foam. This material emits volatile compounds that can cause respiratory problems and skin irritation. What's more, formaldehyde (a chemical in the adhesives that hold the mattress together) has been linked to lung, nose and throat cancers. Memory foam is also loaded with cotton pesticides and flame-retardant toxic chemicals, which can cause cancer and nervous system disorders.

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The problem is, even though research from an Atlanta-based lab found that memory foam emits 61 toxic chemicals into the air (including carcinogens) according to chemists at Duke University, there is not enough data collected on memory foam to dissuade people from buying it.

These scary health conditions are becoming a widespread problem -- and many parents have children who are reacting to memory foam in their beds and cribs -- and they don't know the bed is the cause.

What's in your bed?!

So is memory foam off-limits? Dr. Cara Natterson to fill us in.

ML: Are mattresses hazardous to our health?

Dr. Cara: There is no proven health risk from the substances in mattresses, mostly because tracking their long-term effects is virtually impossible. Heather Stapleton, an environmental chemist at Duke University, says there's simply not enough data to determine whether low levels of these chemicals will eventually make people sick.

ML: Since the majority of mattresses today are made using a variety of petroleum-based chemicals, foams, plastics and controversial flame retardants, is the solution to buy only organic mattresses?

Dr. Cara: Maybe. But critics also often point out that "organic" mattresses aren't necessarily pristine either. For instance, sometimes the cotton used to make mattresses is organic, but the other components are not. If you search the Internet for long enough, you can find someone (not necessarily scientists, and often only consumers) to say something bad about just about every kind of mattress.

ML: One website said many manufacturers like Simmons, Sealy, and Tempur-Pedic won't divulge their flame-retardant formulas because they are considered "trade secrets." So how are we supposed to know what we're buying?
 
Dr. Cara: "Trade secrets" are used to protect the ingredients in many products, from mattresses to shampoos. Many people would like to know what's in the "trade secret" because then (and only then) they can make a decision as to whether the product seems sufficiently safe. But as it stands, the law protects trade secrets.

ML: Is the answer to not buy flame-resistant mattresses?

Dr. Cara: No. Flame retardants are very important. If there is a household fire, flame retardants slow the progression of fire inside the house. Without flame retardants, the risk of injury or death from fire increases significantly. The issue here is to figure out what flame retardant is in and of itself safe. Most people worry about PBDEs. There are many PBDE-free flame retardants, but I personally worry that some of these alternatives haven't been well-enough studied. 

ML: What should pregnant women be sleeping on?

Dr. Cara: If pregnant women are concerned about toxins, an organic mattress is likely less chemical-laden than a non-organic one. But it's not necessarily toxin-free. People will have to do their own research in order to determine which type of mattress they are comfortable buying.

ML: If you can't afford a "green" mattress, is there anything you can do to make sure your baby is safe on a regular mattress? Should you wrap the mattress in something like rubber sheeting?

Dr. Cara: I don't think this has been studied specifically. I can only imagine that any protective layer -- whether it is rubber sheeting or a regular mattress pad and sheet -- provides a barrier so that we are less "exposed" to chemicals within mattresses.

Check out more on mattress safety.

Do you think mattresses are toxic?