To avoid the hazards in your bedroom, pay special attention to the following areas:

Pillows and Mattresses: Poly-fill and other synthetic materials are often made from petroleum derivatives, so they’re heavily treated with polybrominated diphenyl ethers or other fire retardants. Toxicological testing indicates these chemicals may cause liver, thyroid, and neurodevelopmental toxicity. Pillows and mattresses also harbour dust m­ites, and many people are allergic to their leavings, so finding hypo-allergenic and natural options will benefit your health and environment.

Consider hemp, natural latex rubber, wool, Kapok fiber, duck down,  horse hair, millet or buckwheat fill for pillows.

Your dresser, bed, and other furniture: If it’s made from plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), particle board or other wood composite material, that means there’s a significant amount of glue and adhesive holding it together. Those adhesives are formaldehyde-based which can off-gas volatile organic compounds in your bedroom. VOCs can cause chronic and acute health effects, and others are known carcinogens.

Look for eco-friendly furniture manufacturers that use water-based glues and adhesives, and health-friendly finishes.

Carpets and rugs: Your flooring isn’t immune from dangers, either. Carpets often contain significant amounts of VOCs, in everything from the padding in wall-to-wall carpets to the adhesive used in modular carpet tiles. Same story for rugs; the backing is often adhered with indoor air quality-damaging glues.

There are now lots of environmentally friendly options available through flooring and textile companies that can be easily found online or through local distributors.

Paint and other wall coverings: Paint might be the most widely known source of VOCs in your home; thankfully, the list of companies and retailers offering no- or low-VOC paints is pretty big and growing all the time, so splashing up a healthier coat is now easier.

When installing new wall coverings, the smell test is the easiest way to test for VOCs — if it stinks, it’s harmful to you, and can continue to be long after the 24 or 48 hours when you can really smell it. Look for no- and low-VOC paints and adhesives. – Planet Green

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