Article confuses about flame retardants in mattresses.

Heather Stapleton contributed to this review.

An article in the Syracuse Post-Standard written by reporter Gloria Wright calls attention to the issue of chemicals found in mattresses. As the article states, most mattresses do contain a number of chemicals with potential human health hazards including benzene, naphthalene and formaldehyde.

The article, however, changes direction and focuses on flame retardants – primarily, a class of compounds known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDEs. This may confuse readers because of the inconsistent references and inaccurate science stated in the article regarding the use of PBDEs in mattresses. Though there are flammability standards for mattresses, PBDEs are not required by the U.S. government.

PBDEs are used in many consumer products. They are frequently found in furniture foam and plastics used in computers, appliances and electronic products. Over time, PBDEs can escape from these products and get into the environment.

In her article, Wright incorrectly states that there have been no studies of the health effects of PBDEs on humans. In fact, there are now at least four scientific reports of significant human health effects associated with exposure to PBDEs. For example, in a recent Environmental Health Perspectives article, Jonathan Chevrier and his research team report that higher levels of PBDEs in the blood of pregnant women are associated with lower levels of thyroid hormones. Furthermore, another human health study is cited later in Wright’s own article in which she writes "a recent study done at Columbia University found that children who had the highest levels of flame retardants in their umbilical cord blood scored lowest on mental and physical development tests."

PBDEs are long-lasting and can accumulate in the environment. They have been measured in wildlife and people  – especially in blood, breast milk and fat. About 97 percent of U.S. residents have PBDEs in their blood. The levels measured are higher than those measured in other parts of the world – at least 20 times the levels of those measured in Europe and Asia.

PBDEs are potent thyroid hormone disrupters. Animal studies show that exposure to the chemicals before birth can impact brain development. Changes to brain function and behavior are the biggest health concerns surrounding the chemicals.

Wright is also unclear and off-base when she states: "And then there are flame-retardant chemicals, mandated by the U.S. government beginning in 2007." Flame retardants – and specifically PBDEs – have not been mandated by the U.S. government, not even in the 2007 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) flammability standards intended to reduce the severity of mattress fires. To comply, most mattress manufacturers will use a fabric barrier that is heat and fire resistant, according to the Sleep Products Safety Council web site.

As mentioned in the article, mattress makers have not used PBDEs in more than a decade.

While Wright has presented an interesting topic regarding the potential exposure to hazardous chemicals found in mattresses, the article may leave readers confused. She misinforms about PBDEs and interchanges them with chemicals currently found in mattresses that have human health concerns.

Laboratory toxicological – and now human – research studies have demonstrated that PBDEs are likely associated with human health effects. Significant exposure to PBDEs, however, is not likely to occur through new mattresses, though some exposure may occur from mattresses more than a decade old.