| We all know about the benefits of eating organic | | | | - Formaldehyde, a chemical which is used in many |
| foods and using eco-friendly free cleaners and other | | | | adhesives and can cause eye and throat irritation and |
| household items, but now this toxin-free existence has | | | | headaches. |
| extended into other areas of the house. Apparently a | | | | - Carcinogenic flame-retardants (known as PBDE's), |
| tidy, relatively dust-free bedroom just doesn't cut it | | | | many of which are banned in Europe and some U.S. |
| anymore in today's chemical ridden society. | | | | States. |
| How green is your rug? Natural products such as jute | | | | - Decabromodiphenyl Oxide, a brominated flame |
| or wool are the most desirable. | | | | retardant now being found in women's breast milk. |
| Your bedroom furniture may be oozing toxic gases. | | | | Here are a few of the green features in organic |
| Anything composed of particle board or panelling and | | | | bedding and mattresses: |
| left unsealed, can emit formaldehyde and has the | | | | - Natural latex cores wrapped in a natural flame |
| potential to cause difficulty in breathing, watery eyes, | | | | retardant such as cotton or wool |
| or allergies. Extreme levels have been known to cause | | | | - Emission-free mattresses that contain neither glue |
| cancer in animals and humans. | | | | nor adhesives (these can emit toxic fumes for the first |
| When you're painting your walls, look for a low VOC | | | | 2-3 years) |
| brand that contains less toxins. A good rule of thumb | | | | - Natural fiber bedding that not only breathes, but |
| is, the stronger the paint smell after you put it on the | | | | naturally resists dust mites |
| wall, the higher the level of toxicity. | | | | - Any cotton material used in the production of the |
| How many of us are sleeping on an organic bed? An | | | | bedding should be unbleached. Traditional cotton is not |
| organic bed emits no toxic chemicals and provides a | | | | an acceptable choice due to its exposure to large |
| healthy sleep environment. | | | | amounts of pesticides and fertilizers prior to harvesting. |
| Most traditional mattresses are made with fire | | | | - No PBDE's (fire retardants) |
| retardant chemicals which seep out, only to be | | | | - Hypo-allergenic |
| absorbed by our pores and lungs while we are | | | | - Made in a chemical-free manufacturing plant |
| sleeping. After ingesting various chemicals throughout | | | | Various affordable green mattress retailers include |
| our average day, it gives our bodies a much needed | | | | IKEA, Cozypure, Gaiam Greensleep/Vimala and |
| rest if we omit these toxins from our sleeping hours. | | | | EcoChoices. |
| This is especially true when you consider that people | | | | This article was written on behalf of Mark Zawaideh, a |
| spend about one third of their life in bed. | | | | top sales associate in the United States, and based in |
| Some of the common toxins emitted during sleep | | | | the Northville Michigan real estate market. |
| include: | | | | |