Pillows. There is nothing closer to our noses for seven or more hours a day except maybe glasses, for those that wear them. Now we learn from new research that pillows and car seats give humans the highest amount of PBDE flame retardants of any product.
Before this, when I’d focused on pillow toxics, I’d focused on outgassing foam and polyester. If I had really thought about it I would have suspected that pillows might have flame retardants, but maybe the thought was too gruesome to entertain. There is something so innocent about people, especially children, snuggled up with their pillows every night. It is heart breaking to realize that they/we are breathing in chemicals that are long-lasting in the environment (and our bodies.) These chemicals are also being linked to developmental, reproductive disorders and more.
The PBDE Problem
Wisconsin researchers have tracked the most significant sources of human exposure to one type of flame retardant chemicals: polybrominated dipheylethers (PBDEs.) This was done by using a new kind of portable x-ray analyzer that can detect bromine levels in household items.
The PBDE content was substantially higher in pillows made of polyurethane foam (3,646 parts per million.) Compare that with those made of polyester fibers (107 parts per million) or feathers (6 parts per million).
Car seats made of cloth upholstery had bromine levels that were almost 25 times higher than those made of leather.
The highest sources of PBDE are computers and televisions. These devices average about 30,000 and 95,000 parts per million, respectively. They are not, however, the highest source of exposure for people.
Search online for organic pillows!
By Annie B. Bond, best-selling and award-winning author of five green living books, thousands of blogs, and all the tips in the Greenify Everything app. Called “The Godmother of Green” by Martha Stewart Sirius Radio.
[…] Foam has to be hand washed. That said, my advice is to throw out all foam pillows due to the fire retardants they might contain. Read about what I have written about toxic pillows. […]
My husband and I have organic cotton-covered natural rubber pillows from Earthsake that we love. We recently got a similar OrganicTextiles brand pillow for our very young son through Amazon on sale for $30 for a standard size pillow. This is considerably cheaper than what we paid. The cover on this cheaper pillow is not quilted and is ultra thin jersey. And the pattern of holes on this cheaper one is very simple, not fancy, and perhaps ours is more “zoned”. The cheaper one is also thinner which is better for him. Our pillows provide firm yet cushy support for lying on my back and side. We bought ours during Earthsake’s once a year “friends and family” sale. I forget if the discounts are 20% off then? I will say that after 4 years of owning these pillows when I look inside the cover the latex is disintegrating but it doesn’t affect their comfort. And after reading this article I have great peace of mind that our pillows and organic cotton, pure-grow wool, and natural rubber mattress are safe.
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