by Tina Wellman, Ph.D., PNE
 n our last article we addressed internal/external detoxification,
focusing on the latter as it relates to
our immediate home environment.
Each room is a habitat for toxic
chemicals that increase a person’s susceptibility
to toxic overload. One such site is the
bedroom where one-third of our life is
devoted to rest, relaxation, recuperation and
restoration.
While it may come as no surprise that
indoor air pollution is ubiquitous with farreaching
health consequences, toxic emissions
from bedroom chemicals may be one
of our most significant sites and sources of
environmental stress, expressing itself in
poor quality sleep (insomnia, sweating) and
allergies. Let us therefore explore and assess
the typical bedroom environment and suggest
healthier options for bedroom design
that minimizes toxic input while providing
wares and natural materials compatible
with health.
Whether our focus is guided by ecological
or health concerns, it is worthwhile to
bear in mind that it is the sum total of our
chemical input that ultimately affects and
influences long-term health and the consequential
disease trends (patterns) that result
from the habits we practice in our daily life.
Simple changes in habits can do wonders
for building a healthier system, both
human and eco-based.
Bedroom “intoxicants” have multiple
sources including chemical, pest infestation
and electric and magnetic fields (EMF).
Whether your bedroom is a simplyfurnished
room or an elaborate designer
showroom, bedrooms are laden with
chemicals emanating from paints, varnishes,
carpeting, furniture, cleaners (including
polish), books, magazines, window treatments,
televisions and stereo equipment,
and plug-in air fresheners.
Additionally we wrap ourselves in
designer sheets and comforters, not realizing
the price we pay for wrinkle-free
bedding may be exposing us to unnecessary
and increasing levels of formaldehyde in addition to pesticides used in growing
conventional “natural” materials like cotton.
Remember what goes onto the skin
also goes through the skin.
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| . . . we wrap ourselves in designer sheets and comforters, not realizing
the price we pay for wrinkle-free bedding may be exposing us to unnecessary
and increasing levels of formaldehyde in addition to pesticides
used in growing conventional “natural”materials like cotton. Remember
what goes onto the skin also goes through the skin. |
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It is often said that what touches our
skin ends up in our cells, a thoughtprovoking
adage to consider next time you
prioritize convenience over health risks.
Polyfill pillows are economical but at what
price? Catalogues frequently tout their
monetary and hypoallergenic virtues but
fail to mention these materials are not
“breathable,” and may in fact be a source of
allergenicity when inhaled and absorbed
(through the skin and lungs).
Pest management in the bedroom is
often a selling point for synthetic bedding
materials. Realizing the public’s zealous
concern over germ warfare, with dust mites
heading the list of bedroom bug villains,
polyester bed coverings are at an all-time
high. We educate through advertisement,
so who wouldn’t take seriously an ad suggesting
allergen etiology may stem from
dust mite feces that invade your bed? By
asking a few simple questions like “do you
have burning eyes or a runny nose in the
morning” or “do you have A.M. headaches
unrelated to alcohol consumption at dinner,”
the advertiser can suggest the “appropriate
resolution” by supplying just the
product that will resolve the problem. No
one can dispute allergens thrive in moist
warm environments such as a mattress and
pillows, often inciting allergy symptoms
once inhaled—and who doesn’t “inhale”?
While it is noble to dust mite and fecal pellet
proof your bed by creating a barrier that
these nasty pests cannot breach, one needs
also to consider sensitivity to synthetic materials and their potential health risks
posed by continuous exposure to plastic
by-product emissions. Are we resolving one
problem while creating another with its
own set of health concerns? Adding more
chemicals to the equation concomitantly
augments the probability for increased side
effects.
Since sleep is essential for the body to
rest and replenish itself, the potential for
increasing environmental “stress” (through
chemical exposures) while resting is a major
concern for anyone, whether interested in
health issues (i.e. allergies, insomnia, etc.)
or concerned over their quality of life as it
profoundly affects our daily performance.
Who can afford to be sleep deprived
and function in any work capacity?
Compromised sleep is only part of the
concern. The overall impact of chemical
exposure is a long-term issue for which the
side effects contribute to the increase or
decrease in health status over time. Chronic
exposure to chemicals is known to adversely
affect psychobiological homeostasis.
Chemical exposure from commercial
mattresses includes chemical additives you
may not find disclosed on the label. These
include polyester-cotton blends used for
“ticking,” vinyl (PVC made from vinyl
chloride monomer) for water resistance,
most notably used on both hospital and
children’s bedding, Dacron polyester (a
polymer polyester) for batting and urethane
foam (made from polyol and TDI or toluene
diisocyanate), to name a few.
Next time you shop for a mattress,
check with the sales person for a disclosure
sheet itemizing the ingredients and listing
their potential health hazards. The list (if you can obtain one) should inform you that
TDI or toluene (a classified human carcinogen)
exposure can incite pulmonary problems
(i.e. bronchitis) and asthma. Liver
damage, blood disorders and breathing
problems have been known to be associated
with vinyl chloride monomers, another
known human carcinogen. Boric acid is a
multipurpose roach powder and is used as a
fire retardant. Yet, chronic exposure has been
associated with reproductive, liver and kidney
problems.
The issue of “chronic” exposures is significant
in that the immune system is geared to
maintain homeostasis until your body
reaches it’s saturation point, beyond which it
cannot sustain additional chemical assaults.
Then it cannot sustain another chemical
assault. We operate on overload and then
wonder why we are sick. The escalating
cumulative chemical levels incurred in
today’s industrialized society is at the heart of
the health issue. There is no efficient way to
assess individually every person’s psychobiochemcial
threshold. Why test the waters when prevention and knowledge can
do wonders to change and minimize the risk
factors?
Given the fact that we do largely control
the furnishings and attire we place in our
bedrooms, it is well worth considering modifications
that create a healthy, environmentallysafe
bedroom.
The Alternatives
The simplest place to begin modifying the
bedroom environment is by eliminating and
uncluttering all items unrelated to sleep. This
is a bedroom, not a work room. Reduce your
toxic load by reducing the toxic input. This
includes books, magazines, music, radios,
scented candles, perfumes (another source of
chemical pollution) and computers. When
possible, open the windows and allow fresh
air into the room rather than relying on alternating
heat and cooling systems. You can’t
duplicate nature’s provision for fresh air.
Allergy sufferers, however, must take note as
certain areas with high pollen counts make it
necessary to be cautious about inviting outdoor
air quality indoors. Also, some neighborhoods
are subject to periodic pesticide
spraying for mosquitoes and other insects, an
all too common practice indiscriminately
exposing the public to chemical assault.
Assess your immediate living quarters to
determine the wisest choice to make regarding
filtered or fresh air. Minimal furnishings
and minimal distractions should be a priority
for creating a resting ambience. Cluttering
the room only adds stress and more input for
the brain to process. Focus on creating simple
lines, simple furnishings and incorporate
breathable natural fiber bedding that cradles
the body while allowing it to respirate and
sleep soundly, free from distractions and
noise pollution.
When possible remove carpeting, as it is a
major source of chemical input, unless you
have secured some of the unique and
beautiful all-wool, untreated carpeting now
available. Tile or hardwood flooring is ideal
especially for those sensitive to carpeting of
any kind. Both types of flooring are easily
maintained with a quick damp mop using
white vinegar and water. You can always use
cotton or sisal throw rugs in the room, which
require minimal maintenance. Try to furnish
the room with all wood furniture, avoiding
the health hazards of particle board materials
that emit formaldehyde, among other
chemicals, over time.
Safer paints (low or no VOCs) and floor
finishes are now available as are furniture
cleaners and polishes (or try using a lamb’s
wool duster). Keep a few beeswax candles or
an olive oil lamp handy in case of a power
outage. Finally consider the virtues, comfort
and health-giving benefits of natural bedding
from mattresses to pillows and wrap yourself
in nature’s finest materials. Natural bedding
materials such as untreated cotton and wool
are traditionally used in many countries for
comfort, insulation and breathability. Such
materials ventilate and dissipate body heat
better than synthetics or down feathers.
Natural bedding is made from materials
that are simple, comfortable, durable and
respectful towards sustainable agriculture,
free of defoliants, herbicides, pesticides, fluorocarbons
and formaldehyde. Natural bedding
contains no irritants, no foams, plastics
or polyesters that break down and compress
over time. Ideally, a “blend” or combination
of natural cotton and wool complement one
another for bedding materials since wool handles
body moisture efficiently and maintains
it’s resiliency (loft) better than cotton alone.
Wool is nature’s ideal insulator with
additional benefits: it is naturally mildew
resistant. It provides an ideal microclimate
(sensitive to body temperature), keeping one
cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
European studies have determined a sleeper’s
heart rate and humidity next to the skin is
lower under a wool comforter than a down
or synthetic-filled comforter. Considering a
pint of water vapor is emitted during an
eight-hour sleep cycle, wool provides the
“wicking” action that keeps the skin dry
instead of wet and clammy. It is the synergistic
action between the fiber/air combination
of the wool-fiber batting structures that
cushion the body and relieve pressure points.
Wool is also flame resistant, eliminating the
need for fire retardants—one less chemical to
contend with. Contrast wool with wearing a
parka windbreaker outdoors in the cold to
provide insulation and you’ll have a clear
picture of insulators that hold in moisture
versus those that “breathe,” allowing moisture
to dissipate.
Few people realize the allergenicity,
purity and quality of wool is influenced by
agricultural practices and processing methods,
both of which emphasize avoidance of
chemicals. Chemical-free wool is raised by
ranchers practicing responsible land management
(avoiding use of pesticides, herbicides
and defoliants). Processing the wool involves
adhering to meticulous inspection (i.e. pests,
dirt and length) and hygiene practices which
eliminate the need for chemical treatments
(i.e. carbonizing wool). Hot water and
biodegradable soap are used to wash the
wool. Only top-quality wool is then hand selected for “carding” (a process of combing
wool into batts used for bedding). “Clean
shearing produces clean wool,” according to
one natural bedding manufacturer. Given the
versatility, tensile strength, durability and
breathability of natural wool, this material
provides comfort for the most discriminating
consumer. Not only is wool the most breathable
fiber on the planet but contrary to popular
notion that wool is only a warming or
insulating material, the Saharan Bedouins
wear wool to keep themselves cool, demonstrating
its inherent temperature modulating
properties.
A combination of naturally versus commercially
grown cotton and wool provide the
basic materials for the bedroom with an array
of bedding supplies comparable to many traditional
products. These include pillows,
comforters, mattresses/box springs, futons,
mattress pads, “toppers” (similar to a conventional
feather bed) and crib bedding.
Variations in firmness and styles are available
to accommodate individual taste. Natural
latex made from the hevea brasiliensis or
rubber tree is another breathable material
suitable for allergy-prone individuals or those
with multiple aches and pains that require
pressure relief and back support. Natural
bedding alternatives use the best of all three
worlds in combining cotton, latex and natural
wool. Noteworthy is latex’s anti-microbial
and dust mite resistance. Combine these
virtues with latex’s breathability and you have
a recipe for maintaining fresh, clean air while
you sleep.
A Final Thought
The toxicity of conventional sleeping surfaces,
combined with other environmental
factors in the bedroom, are at the heart of
many health disorders. While we often associate
insomnia and headaches with life’s
stresses like job, family or finances, pesticide
and chemical exposure are overlooked. When
we suffer with sinusitis, bronchitis, allergies
and chronic fatigue, we have exceeded our
individual biochemical “threshold.”
Consequently symptoms surface alerting us
to potential health problems, if the causes are
not determined and rectified. Tolerance to
chemicals is highly individualized, influenced
by our adaptational responses to “stressors.”
Minimizing our health risks from chemical
exposures is easier to resolve when we
know the contents of frequently used products,
their potential health hazards and viable
health alternatives that reduce rather than
increase our health risks. This is the best
natural “prescription” for a healthy home,
providing the most optimal environment for
health and healing.
Symptoms are a blessing in disguise. They
usually precede the onset of disease, alerting
us to look for sources inciting our symptoms.
The simplest method of delineating the
source of our problem is to check our
immediate environment both internally and
externally for sources of pollution. Consider
everything from food to bedding and you’ll
find the list is chock-full of potential
incitants. Bedding is not a total solution but
a significant part of the resolution to maintaining
a healthy environment and reducing
our toxic load.
For further information you may contact Dr. Tina Wellman at ECS Distributors, phone 817-652-3792
fax 817-652-1543. E-mail:
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References:
- The Healthy Home, Linda Mason Hunter, Simon & Schuster Inc., NY, 1989.
- Nontoxic & Natural, Debra Lynn Dadd, Jeremy P. Tarcher Inc., CA, 1984.
- The New Natural House Book, David Pearson, Simon & Schuster, NY, 1989.
- The Physiology of Stress, Mary F. Asterita, Human Sciences Press, Inc. NY, 1985.
- Freedom From Chronic Disease, Arthur L. Kaslo and Richard B. Miles, Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc., CA, 1979.
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