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TV stations, Magazines, and Newspapers across the country have done news stories on toxic beds
 

NBC Indianapolis, 2-14-08, Sleeping with Danger

A very strong story: Patty Davis, a spokeswoman with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, said the toxic chemicals do not get out of the mattress. But then the reporter showed the CPSC report and said: "But that's not what the CPSC's own scientific report says." The report shows toxic and cancer causing chemicals do leach from mattresses and are absorbed by our bodies. The story interviewed Dale Guyer, MD, who said he is now finding Antimony in peoples bodies, one of the FR chemicals now being added to mattresses. Guyer said. "This could be a potential serious health risk for a lot of people and they aren't even aware of it. "They interviewed Amy Beechy, who got sick from her mattress and said: "I had flu like symptoms like fatigue, headaches, my eyes would burn," Beechy stopped sleeping on the mattress and immediately began to feel better.

"At several factories around the country, the people who make mattresses say they're suffering health problems, too. WTHR talked to workers at a large mattress plant [Not Simmons] who say they and dozens of their co-workers have gotten sick in the past eight months. "We've seen rashes and skin irritations, headaches, sore throats..." said one of the workers. "I've had nose bleeds, bronchitis, and coughing," said another. "It's happening to lots of us and it's just been getting worse." They say all the health problems began last year when they started making mattresses that pass the government's new flame test. When asked if they would purchase and sleep on a mattress made at their factory, the workers said they would not."

Like most stories they also interviewed Mark Strobel who has led the fight against the regulation, and they concluded by telling people the only way to get a chemical free mattress is by prescription.

A great story we hope you will watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wksEea7XxJA

CBS Chicago, 9-24-07

"What Might Be In Your Mattress? Could Mattress Safety Measures Make You Sick?

The story interviewed Dr. Doris Rapp, MD, who says unsafe, several Simmons mattress factory employees who are getting sick just from handling the new flame retardant materials, Serta who admits using Boric Acid, and Mark Strobel who has campaigned and generated news against the new flameproof mattress regulation for four years.

The CBS story quotes several Simmons mattress factory employees complaining of "Breathing Problems, Sharp Chest Pains, Sinus Problems, Irritated Eyes, Chronic Sore Throats, Bloody Noses, and Painful Skin Rashes." In one scene a Simmons executive says they offer employees protection as the reporter picks up a dust mask/respirator. The only thing wrong in the story was that they said "Manufacturers have to tell you what chemicals are in the mattress, but you have to ask." This is simply untrue, there are no labeling requirements, and a Simmons executive they interviewed said "We don't want to put our recipe out there." The story concludes by telling people the only way to get a chemical free mattress is by prescription.

See the Video at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEd8Xwl__Fk

ABC Cincinnati, "Sleeping With Danger" 5-5-08
Another strong story: "It sometimes is the only thing that will eradicate roaches from a building," explains retired Cincinnati Fire Chief Bill Kramer, now University of Cincinnati fire science professor. "It would not be something I would use as a first choice to create a flame retardant for a mattress." He fears the flame-retardant chemicals in new mattresses could do more harm than good. "In their zeal to protect us from ourselves, some of these government agencies can go too far," Kramer said. "Sometimes, the cure they come up with is worse than the malady it's designed to correct." In truth, no one knows the long term effects of sleeping every night a fraction of an inch from boric acid, antimony and other toxic flame retardants, and that unknown is what worries fire science professor Bill Kramer. "I was a Marine Corps officer during the Vietnam era," Kramer said. "And it took us many decades to realize the effects of Agent Orange. I would certainly not like to see something like that transpire here."

"It's proven you're going to absorb a daily dose that's twenty-seven times the EPA says is safe," Strobel said. The only way to get a new mattress without any flame retardant is by prescription. If your doctor or chiropractor prescribes a chemical-free mattress, people like Strobel can make one for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO2dl-xzhJ8

National CBS Evening News, Katie Couric, May 19-20 2008, parts 1 and 2

Is Fire Retardant A Harmful Toxin? Part 1, May 19, 2008

She grew up on an island off the coast of Maine, but when Hannah Pingree had her blood tested, she found 19 different flame retardant chemicals in her system.

"If I have it, you have it, we all have it," Pingree said.

We all have it, because for 30 years, flame-retardant chemicals - hundreds of millions of pounds of them - have been embedded in furniture and consumer products, in an effort to slow down fires and reduce deaths and injuries.

They show video of mattress manufacturing and the new mattress open flame test.

The mattress factory video is the same as used in the NBC Indianapolis Toxic mattress story where the workers report getting sick from the flame retardant chemicals in the mattresses.

See the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31khqnJFXU4

Controversy Over Fire-Retardant Chemicals Part 2, May 20, 2008

"They can affect the developing brain and they can affect the developing reproductive system," said EPA senior toxicologist Linda Birbaum.

Despite the growing concern over flame-retardant chemicals, the industry, and groups aligned with industry, is lobbying to increase the use of chemicals in a wide range of consumer products.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ucp9ntmsA4Y

Chicago Tribune, Chicago IL, July 1 2007, got admissions from industry and top manufacturers that they really are using toxic chemicals to flameproof mattresses including, Antimony Trioxide (Arsenic), Boric Acid (Roach Killer), Silica Glass, and Ammonium Polyphosphate (Ammonia). Plus she quoted several top scientists and doctors who say this is unsafe. They also told people there is an alternative in prescription mattresses that are toxin free and allowed by the regulation.
Selected quotes and link to full Chicago Tribune story
 

CBS New York, 12-20-07
"New Fire Retardant Mattresses Source Of Toxins"
The story interviews Joan Kramer who with her husband became sick from their new mattress, Emily Main of The Green Guide, and Simmons mattress factory employees who also became sick from the FR materials. It is a good story exposing the risks except they reported organic mattresses pass the open flame test with wool. Wool actually burns and will not pass the test. See (Wool Burns)
See the New York video at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owJGBZsSOZE

New York NY, FOX TV, 6-26-07
This news video ran on FOX stations across the country. Like most of the stories they interviewed Mark Strobel who says the chemicals are proven to leach out and be absorbed by our bodies, and is concerned it will harm millions of people and it will take us years to find out.
See video here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FO0T69ZL5A

More News ...

Some of the links below may not work if the TV station removed the story from their website

CBS Boston,  11-8-07
"Chemicals Prompt Concern About Mattress Standard",
CPSC says Children absorb 63 times more Poison from flameproof mattresses than the EPA says is safe.

The Boston news story interviewed Liz Harriman, of the Toxic Use Reduction Institute at University of Massachusetts Lowell, Cindy Luppi, of the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, and concluded with a Mother named Gwendolyn Atwood. All are concerned about the toxic chemicals now being added to mattresses

CBS Boston also interviewed Ryan Trainer of ISPA (the mattress manufactures association) who admitted manufacturers do use Antimony, but then he misstated the facts by saying Antimony could not get out of mattresses, and that testing proved it did not get out. In fact, the government proved Antimony and more does leach to the surface of mattresses in large quantities.

Please look at the CPSC risk assessment justifying the regulation, and you will see:

The CPSC proved these chemicals leach to the surface of mattresses and measured significant amounts of toxins contacting our bodies.

The CPSC says five year old children will absorb .5 mg Antimony (Arsenic) from flameproof mattresses, every night. This is 63 times more Poison than the EPA say is safe! They also say the average adult will absorb .8 mg Antimony every night, and this is 27 times more poison than the EPA says is safe. Antimony is one of the acutely toxic heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic, antimony) and is also known to cause cancer.
See the CBS Boston video at: http://wbztv.com/video/?id=44507@wbz.dayport.com 

CBS Philadelphia, "Sick Mattresses", 10-11-07
The story was similar to the CBS Chicago story as mattress factory employees complained of "Irritated Eyes, Chronic Sore Throats, Bloody Noses, and Painful Skin Rashes."

The story concludes by telling people the only way to get a chemical free mattress is by prescription.
See the Video at: http://cbs3.com/video/?id=46954@kyw.dayport.com

ABC Detroit, "Is Your Mattress Toxic?" May 13 2008

"This could be our greatest toxic disaster ever."

[Mark Strobel - Mattress Manufacturer] "There's a lot of double talk in the mattress industry, but there's no chemical-free systems that pass this test.'

But the CPSC admits that some of the toxins are absorbed by the body every night. And a review lab hired by the agency found serious flaws in its methodology.. questioning how the CPSC could simulate a lifetime of exposure.. the lab also questioned how the CPSC scientists decided on a higher maximum daily dose of antimony than other government agencies allow.

[Mark Strobel - Mattress Manufacturer] "It's proven you're going to absorb a daily dose that's 27 times than the EPA says is safe."

All new mattresses must survive this baptism by fire. Even crib mattresses. Many of those also contain boric acid.. even though the boric acid label says "keep out of the reach of children."

Yet the CPSC's risk assessment specifically excluded babies and toddlers.

[Mark Strobel - Mattress Manufacturer] "They made the assumption all children under five will sleep on vinyl sheets due to bed wetting problems and that's going to protect them from the toxic chemicals in their mattress."

Royal Oak toxicologist Dr. Michael Harbut says if you have a waterproof mattress pad – or plastic -- on your bed – you can minimize your exposure to these chemicals.

[Dr. Michael Harbut/Toxicologist] “Until we really know for sure that they’re completely safe, it’s probably a good idea to be prudent. Put on a mattress pad, seal up the mattress, be safe – don’t sleep on a bare mattress.”

The only way to get a new mattress without any flame retardant is by prescription. If your doctor or chiropractor prescribes a chemical-free bed.. some companies can make them for you –but it can be costly.

Meanwhile.. even if you ask.. manufacturers and retailers are *not* required to tell you if your mattress has toxins inside.

See the Video: http://www.wxyz.com/content/news/investigators/story.aspx?content_id=73AA2CBB-83CA-4F6A-8F1B-D1AB338C0FAB&gsa=true

ABC Cleveland, "Flame-Resistant Mattresses Made With Toxic Chemicals," May 14 2008

But mattress manufacturer Mark Strobel said, "We continually find these flame retardants are harmful. [Federal regulators] ban them one after the other".

Allergist Dr. Leonard Rubinstein admits the flame retardant chemicals might have a worthwhile effect, they also have the potential to harm the respiratory system. "Patients are often developing eye or skin irritation from sitting in contact with these chemicals that leach out. We are also seeing patients having headaches or neurological symptoms from some of these aromatics", said Rubinstein.

See the Video: http://www.newsnet5.com/news/16263350/detail.html  

NBC West Palm Beach, “Sleeping With Danger,” 5-21-08
(Mark Strobel/pres., Strobel Technologies) I became alarmed about the situation when I tried to find a non-toxic system for my beds and I found there weren’t any. … Ann Ilton says the fire-retardant inside her mattresses gave her blinding headaches. … the experience is dreadful.

See the Video: http://www.wptv.com/content/specialreports/story.aspx?content_id=e6031650-bc55-49ee-b079-74124868efd2

NBC Kansas City, "Sleeping With Danger," 4-24-08
"I did have a new mattress for a while and I did have a pretty bad reaction to it," Kansas City native Richard Thompson said. ... "The research picture is still unclear," Children's Mercy Hospital environmental health hygienist Kevin Kennedy said. Right now, no federal law requires the maker of any mattress to list flame-retardant chemicals on a mattress label, but some experts say people need to know these chemicals exist in case they notice health trouble. "The more we can help them reduce that complex mix of things they're exposed to…the more healthy and more normal a life they can lead," Kennedy said. "This is close, chronic exposure, and it becomes a huge risk," Strobel said.
http://www.nbcactionnews.com/content/investigative/story.aspx?content_id=3b215cd2-d8a4-4b2f-adff-8738fbd0e780

CBS Indianapolis, 2-14-08, Sleep Concerns - A Special Report

This story interviews yet another person sick from their mattress, Cheryl Anderson, who said two different mattresses make her sick with fever and skin rashes. The story discusses Antimony, a probable carcinogen, being added to mattresses and that toxic chemicals are required to pass the new open flame test. Plus they told people the only way to get a chemical free mattress is with a Doctor's prescription. It concludes by telling people children under age five were not studied by the CPSC, as they assumed all these children would sleep on vinyl sheets, and that this would protect them from the toxic chemicals in their mattresses.

See the preview of the story at: http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7873581
You may have to search their site with "Sleep Concerns" to see the full video story, unless they later update this page.

CBS Sacramento, 11-2-07
Chemicals in Mattresses: The story was similar to the CBS Chicago story as mattress factory employees complained of "Irritated Eyes, Chronic Sore Throats, Bloody Noses, and Painful Skin Rashes."

The story concludes by telling people the only way to get a chemical free mattress is by prescription.
http://cbs13.com/seenon/Call.Kurtis.mattresses.2.481490.html

ABC Denver, news video, 7-31-07
"Many manufacturers are predicting a backlash once consumers start to investigate what's really lying under their sheets with them."

CBS Louisville, news video, 7-9-07
Features Dr. Doris Rapp, MD

NBC Louisville, news video, 7-5-07
Features mattress manufacturer employees sick

FOX Louisville, news video follow-up story, 7-5-07
Features people sick from fireproof mattresses

ABC Louisville, "It's like sleeping on rat poison", 10-23-07
"Health experts believe that children up to six years old are most at risk because their vital organs and immune system are still developing." (The CPSC excluded children under five from their study by assuming all will sleep on vinyl sheets due to bedwetting problems, and that this would protect them from the toxic chemicals in their mattresses.) See: CPSC risk assessment
See video of story: http://www.whas11.com/news/consumer/stories/102307whasjdlocalchemicalss.19d3aa9ab.html

Rock River Times, Rockford IL, October 3 & 17, 2007
"New law requires dangerous chemicals in mattresses,"
Part 1 10-3-07: http://www.rockrivertimes.com//index.new.pl?cmd=printstory&id=17847&cat=13
Part 2 10-17-07: http://www.rockrivertimes.com/index.new.pl?cmd=printstory&id=17965&cat=13

Bonnie Rogoff column, Good chemistry and bed chemistry, August 26, 2007
"A new epidemic that is killing cats in their twilight years, caused by chemical flame retardants … Ironically, mattress workers are coming forward and admitting they are getting sick simply handling the new chemically-laden materials, but the “S” bedding giants such as Sealy, Serta and Simmons remain tight-lipped about the chemicals contained in their beds. … To put millions of lives at risk to save a few is unconscionable."

Tampa FL, Fox TV wtvt, Tampa Bay area, 7-9-07

Milwaukee WI, FOX TV, witi, 6-26-07

Minneapolis - St. Paul MN, FOX, kmsp, 6-26-07

Charlestown WV, FOX, wvah, 6-26-07
text: http://www.wvah.com/newsroom/shows/10tue.shtml#42

Jacksonville FL, FOX, waws, 6-26-07
text: http://www.fox30online.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=12AE8F2E-CA00-4C72-9728-E5A7393A2B65&gsa=true

Cincinnati OH, FOX, wxix, 6-26-07

Denver CO, NBC, 6-29-07
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=72857
Video: http://www.9news.com/video/player.aspx?aid=36828&bw=

Austin TX, FOX, ktbc, 6-26-07

Evansville IN, FOX, wtvw, 6-26-07

Colorado Springs CO, FOX, 6-29-07
http://www.fox21news.com/

Louisville KY, Fox 41 on 6-12-07,

Indianapolis IN, Fox 59 TV, 6-13-07
www.fox59.com

Boise ID, CBS 7 TV, 6-7-07
KTVB.com Boise ID, story:
 http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-jun0707-mattress.240e4670.html
Video
http://www.ktvb.com/video/index.html?nvid=149915&she=1

Charlotte Observer, Charlotte NC, July 1 2007
Selected quotes and link to Charlotte story

Columbus Dispatch, Columbus OH, 6-17-07
http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/home_garden/stories/2007/06/17/MATTRESS.ART_ART_06-17-07_H1_UP70TR6.html?print=yes

CBN.com, Is your mattress making you sick 7-2-07
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/108278.aspx

VegNews Magazine, July/August Issue 2007
www.vegnews.com

Medical Journals Articles:
 

The American Chiropractor, November 2006 issue, a non-profit medical journal.
"EPA Proves Flameproof Mattresses Toxic"
After verifying the facts, a medical journal published this article. The article is reprinted from "The American Chiropractor" magazine, a non-profit medical journal. It appeared in the November 2006 issue pages 54-55. It is mailed to about 40,000 Chiropractors across the United States.
To see a scanned version of how the article appeared in the magazine as a PDF file click here.

Chiropractic Economics, March 30 2007 issue
"New federal standards, new health hazards -- How you can protect your patients."
Again after verifying the facts another leading medical journal, Chiropractic Economics, published this article in their March 30, 2007, magazine. It is mailed to about 35,000 leading Chiropractors across the country. See the PDF file as reprinted from the magazine by clicking here.

American Chiropractic Association magazine July-07 article titled:
"New Open-Flame Mattress Standards Under Fire, Consumers Offered an Alternative Through Chiropractic Prescription" “CPSC predicted that every night consumers would absorb .081 mg of boric acid and .802 mg of antimony, in addition to smaller amounts of several other potent chemicals. “This amount of antimony is 27 times more than the Environmental Protection Agency says is safe: .03 mg,””
http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=2418

Chiropractic Products Magazine, May 2008 issue
Sleeping Sickness, by Mark Strobel
Federal flameproof mattress regulation creates new health risk.
http://www.chiropub.com/issues/articles/2008-05_05.asp

The American Chiropractor, June 2008 issue, a non-profit medical journal.
Federal Flameproof Mattress Regulation Creates New Health Risk -- Sleepers and Workers Sick
See the PDF file as reprinted from the magazine by clicking here.

Books:

“Is your new mattress safe?”

An in-depth special report of problems about mattresses, especially those manufactured since 7/1/07

by Doris J Rapp, M.D.

Doris J. Rapp, MD, F.A.A.A., F.A.A.P. Is a board-certified environmental medical specialist and pediatric allergist. She was a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Rapp is the founder of the Practical Allergy Foundation and is a past President of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine. She is also the author of several books, and a New York Times Best Selling Author.

The book primarily address the risks from the new fire retardant chemicals in new mattresses.

It is available for purchase for $14.95 at: http://www.drrapp.com/publications.htm

Washington Post, Industry Admission of Chemicals in Beds
San Francisco Chronicle
The Columbus Dispatch, Columbus Ohio
Town Times, Connecticut, “The Law of Unintended Consequences”
Concord Monitor, NH
The Lone Star Iconoclast, Texas,
St. Mary's Today, Maryland
Courier-Journal,  Louisville Kentucky

ABC News, 10 News, San Diego, CA, "Is Your Mattress Killing You Softly?"
ABC News, WHAS 11 TV, Louisville, KY
FOX News, Fox59 TV, Indianapolis, First Industry Admission of Chemicals in Beds
CBS News, Wbhf TV, Quad Cities IL story
 

Louisville Kentucky: The Courier-Journal: Mattress maker targets 'clean' niche, August 21, 2006 •• 978 words •• ID: lou33451826 Strobel leaves out fire retardant chemicals By Bill Wolfe bwolfe@courier-journal.com  For nearly two years, Jeffersonville, Ind., mattress maker Mark Strobel fought a federal proposal for tougher fire standards for his industry. The new rules, he argued, would lead companies to lace bedding with toxic fire-retardant chemicals such as boric acid and antimony.

ABC News, 10 News, San Diego, CA,
 "Is Your Mattress Killing You Softly? Chemical in Mattresses Could Be Toxic"

[Industry has previously admitted they use chemicals including Boric Acid to the Washington Post and others. Kevlar is used in the yellow thread you see on the perimeter of the mattress to hold it together, but this is not the flameproofing system. The CPSC report table 1 proves the cotton batting flameproofing system contains 7.5% Boric Acid and 2.4% Antimony. With no labeling requirements, it is typical for mattress makers to deny using chemicals!]
http://www.10news.com/news/7131615/detail.html 2/16/06

Washington Post reports risks of toxic chemicals in flameproof mattresses

washingtonpost.com
Fire-Resistant Mattresses Ignite Fear of Chemicals

By Cindy Skrzycki
Post
Tuesday, May 17, 2005; E01 (Front Page of Business Section)


"This is no sleeper issue. ... The issue is an important one because almost everyone sleeps on a mattress. And it's big business, with about 25 million new mattresses sold annually, most made by U.S. companies."

Mattress Chemical Article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/16/AR2005051601524.html?sub=AR

Mattress Chemical Article, printer friendly version:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/16/AR2005051601524_pf.html
 

The Washington Post story was picked up by many newspapers across the country, and the issue is being featured by major market TV affiliates of CBS, FOX, and ABC.

A new law already effective in California and being enacted nationwide by Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) requires mattresses to resist ignition from open flames.

While the CPSC and Industry public statements say these chemical systems are safe, the written word of the CPSC in their draft law says otherwise. They admit these systems have never been studied, are ‘acutely toxic’, a ‘reproductive and developmental toxin’, and more study is needed. They do say they are getting exposure data and studying them now, but we fear study will not be complete before this law is enacted and that they are trying to justify a preexisting conclusion.

With the safety verdict still out, all new mattresses sold in California, and millions nationwide contain toxic chemical flame proofing systems. At least one major brand has fire proofing systems on all their new mattresses nationwide.

Manufacturers, and consumers with no labeling information, must choose from one of four basic chemical systems under the ticking to meet law: 1) Boric Acid with Antimony. 2) Polyester with Antimony. 3) Fiberglass with Antimony. 4) Melamine with Formaldehyde. All four systems contain chemicals linked to cancer. Antimony causes heart muscle damage, and can cause the heart to beat irregularly or stop, and a single dermal application has killed rabbits. Europe has proven Antimony leaches from mattresses and it has been found in livers of dissected human infants.

Quoting the Washington Post: “Serta, the second-largest U.S. manufacturer, has been using a fire-blocking system on all its products since January [2005] that uses a blend of natural and synthetic fibers as well as chemicals. …"There is an infinitesimal level of boric acid available on the surface of mattresses," he [Serta] said.” We strongly disagree with the amount and safety of Boric Acid in mattresses. Our government says Boric Acid leaches from mattresses. There can be over one million milligrams of water soluble Boric Acid as loose dust in the surface of a mattress. As the oils in the cotton batting dry out over time much more Boric Acid will be released to kick up into our faces to breathe and absorb by our bodies. Boric Acid is poison, is used as Roach Killer, and the CPSC calls it ‘acutely toxic.’ There are 6,463 cases of Boric Acid poisoning in the US each year. We have found at least one case where an 11-year old child with chronic skin rash appears to be poisoned by boric acid in a mattress. In addition to Inhalation, skin, and damaged skin absorption, it appears children could be poisoned by sucking on a mattress.

The CPSC notified California their law is invalid and unenforceable since there is an existing federal flammability law (cigarette ignition). California chooses to enforce it anyway. A lawsuit on a single point of law could stop California, federal law preempts state law. But we still have to stop the CPSC. The largest mattress companies pushed for and want this law for their own benefit. Now ISPA’s largest members, Leggett & Platt, Sealy, and Serta recently withdrew their membership.

Consumer Watch: Mattress Safety
05:00 PM EDT on Monday, August 22, 2005
ABC News, WHAS 11 TV, Louisville, KY
By Kirby Adams

"We are putting 300 million at risk to sleeping in toxic chemicals to save 300 from fire,"

Again the CPSC misstates the facts in their zeal to push this law through. See the true facts by clicking here

You can see the two-minute video of the story from their website:
http://www.whas11.com/news/consumer/stories/WHAS11_CONSUMER_MattressSafety.9c51d27b.html

U.S. MAY RAISE FIRE STANDARDS FOR MATTRESSES
Published: Sunday, July 24, 2005
FEATURES - HOME & GARDEN 01I
By Lee Stratton
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
(Columbus Ohio)

"In 2000, the National Academy of Sciences recommended that antimony -- the most commonly used fire retardant -- be banned in upholstered furniture. That recommendation was based on a 1998 European study that linked the chemical in crib mattresses to sudden infant death syndrome."

Unfortunately they charge you $1.50 to view the entire article. All the other news links on our site are free.
www.dispatch.com

Fox59 TV Gets First Industry Admission of Chemicals in Beds

4/28/05 "The flames engulfed one mattress, but not the Serta mattress treated with a flame retardant ... Serta uses small amounts of Boric Acid or Boron ... While other mattress makers do offer similar flame retardant products in California, Serta is the only company to use a flame retardant system on it's entire line of mattresses across the country." Our health risk other side of the story also got good coverage, and the story asks, is it safe, and is the benefit worth the risk? Fox59 TV in Indianapolis ran the story.

See the story by Fox59 TV in Indianapolis, it ran as a two minute TV segment, but you can see the printed version on the Fox website by clicking here.

We talked to James Mowry, quoted in the story, who cited a study by the National Academy of Science. He said he was referring to a review done on flame retardants in upholstered furniture, not mattresses, and based his comments on the exposure data amount quoted by the reporter (data presumably provided by Serta). Further it looked at Zinc Borate back coated to upholstery fabric, not boric acid powder as loose dust in mattresses, and the amount of chemical used in mattresses is 7.5 times more than that in the fabric per sq/cm. (more details)

Interestingly, this review had some data for Antimony and warned against Antimony as a flame retardant for upholstered furniture.

Their grape juice comparison seems a wildly broad statement. At one hundred times more than in a year means you would absorb only .003 mg in a year. You would likely breathe more than this in a single breath while just being in the room with one of these mattresses. Our analysis shows the mattress contains 3.8 Million times more boron (found in boric acid) than found in a 6 oz glass of grape juice (.3 mg.).

By comparison, you would have to drink over 200 glasses of grape juice, about 10 gallons, every day for 50 years to equal the amount of Boric Acid in a mattress.

The San Francisco Chronicle, 3/2/05, Home Editor, Laura Thomas, did a 1500 word article exposing the health risks of toxic chemicals being used in mattresses to meet a new open flame resistance law. The new law is already effective in California and is being enacted nationwide by the Consumer Products Safety Commission within the next year.

See the article at: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/03/02/HOGHSBDEL126.DTL

Laura did a great job of telling a balanced story from what people told her. But this illustrates the problem we face. Proponents whitewash the chemical issue and say they don’t use chemicals. The CPSC’s proposed law lists the various systems used to meet the standard, and their chemical content. A review of this document will prove the proponents statements wrong.

Neither the CPSC nor I have yet found a barrier system that does not require dangerous chemicals. See quotable truths on chemicals in mattresses, pages 138 to 162 of  the CPSC draft of this new law. See quotes and links to this document: http://www.peopleforcleanbeds.org/Quotes-CPSC.htm

See full rebuttals of proponents statements in the San Francisco Chronicle Article by clicking here

Plus, coverage from a Connecticut newspaper article titled: “The Law of Unintended Consequences” http://www.towntimes.com/articles/2005/02/24/news/editorials/editorial02.txt

CBS 5-25-05, Wbhf Quad Cities IL story 
http://www.whbf.com/Global/story.asp?S=3395842&nav=0zGnaKWL

wbhf printer friendly: http://www.whbf.com/global/story.asp?s=3395842&ClientType=Printable

Texas, The Lone Star Iconoclast
http://www.iconoclast-texas.com/News/07news08.htm

St. Mary's Today, Maryland
http://www.stmarystoday.com/fire_retardant_in_bedding_a_good.htm

Concord Monitor, ran Cindy Skrzycki, Washington Post article in full
http://www.cmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050518/REPOSITORY/505180346/1013/NEWS03

The Louisville Kentucky, Courier-Journal newspaper ran a shortened version of the Washington Post story on page A-19 on Sunday May 22. They omitted the parts about Serta, ISPA, and Davis. They don't post the story on their website.

Many other newspapers across the country ran the Washington Post article, but most don't post other newspapers articles on their website.

The Courier-Journal: Mattress maker targets 'clean' niche, August 21, 2006 •• 978 words •• ID: lou33451826 Strobel leaves out fire retardant chemicals By Bill Wolfe bwolfe@courier-journal.com  For nearly two years, Jeffersonville, Ind., mattress maker Mark Strobel fought a federal proposal for tougher fire standards for his industry. The new rules, he argued, would lead companies to lace bedding with toxic fire-retardant chemicals such as boric acid and antimony.

The articles below tell the story. While the articles are copyrighted, News media are free to use and edit the articles to their liking. We only ask to be informed if you publish an article:

Article 1
A short 500 word version that tells the highlights of the story.

Article 2
A 1,000 word article with references.

Article 3
A 3,000 word article that tells more of the story including how the innerspring mattress industry ask for and supported the new California law and national regulation, and how it benefits them. Plus it tells the US Consumer Products Safety Commission side of the story, and how it will cost consumers 1.11 Billion dollars, and limit liability for mattress manufacturers. It tries to tell a balanced story and gives background information of the chemical risks and how we made toxic mistakes in the past.

Please see the facts first hand: Proof pages for media.pdf
This collection includes selected highlighted pages from the CPSC risk assessment that prove the chemicals really used in mattresses, that we will absorb toxins, that they excluded children under age five, the problems and omissions in the report and how their conclusions are invalid from a report designed to reach a preexisting conclusion. Plus there are Doctor comments and public comments from people who have gotten sick from flameproof mattress, and more.

 Here are some other links that may interest you:

Table of Chemicals in Beds
Pounds Poison in Beds
People Sick
Doctor & More Comments

Strobel's history of fighting the regulation since 2003
http://www.peopleforcleanbeds.org/fight_history.htm

Please see other news we have gotten in the past from the San Francisco to the Washington Post and more, at our link: Making News.

For questions or high-resolution photos please contact:

Mark Strobel
President, Strobel Technologies, www.Strobel.com,  www.PrescriptionBeds.com
Director, People For Clean Beds, www.PeopleForCleanBeds.org
3131 Industrial Parkway
Jeffersonville, IN 47130

Phone: 812-282-4388
Fax: 812-282-6528
Email: mark@strobel.com

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Notice: The statements and questions contained in this notice are not intended to convey allegations regarding any particular company, person, or association. Readers should conduct their own investigation of a company or association or person to ascertain the particular policies, practices, and motivations of that entity. I have reported what I believe to be true and correct to the best of my knowledge and opinion at the time of its writing in a free speech effort to avert a public health disaster.