What chemicals are in foam used in beds? Have any allergic reactions been reported?
A. Thanks for your question. This is an important question to ask and also a tricky one because different companies will use different methods to create their foam. Undeniably, the most chemical-free foam used in bedding is natural latex foam. Latex is 100% natural and is hypoallergenic, helping to lessen the presence of harmful allergens and molds in the bedroom. Talalay Latex is a combination of synthetic materials (about 30%) and natural latex (about 70%), so this type of latex will be a bit less pure, but doesn’t contain chemicals harmful to the body. Polyurethane foam and memory foam are almost entirely synethetic, and polyurethane foam used to have problems with methylene chloride. However, reputable manufacturers have eliminated it entirely from the process. It’s a good idea to ask where a foam supplier gets their polyurethane foam if that’s a type of foam you’re looking into. For further information, visit pfa.org. Their website has extensive information on evolving practices a
