sleeping with the enemy
Don’t sleep with bedding labeled as stain- or water-resistant. Toxic-Free Future of Seattle, Washington, originally known as the Washington Toxics Coalition, has been advocating for greater transparency in the marketplace and commonsense bans on chemicals that cause cancer and reproductive harm. In one of their latest campaigns, the nonprofit group tested bedding for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), chemicals used to add stain and water resistance to products but that cause cancer and reproductive damage.
The items they analyzed included comforters, mattress pads or covers (toppers), sheets, and pillowcases. Thirteen were labeled stain- or water-resistant. The group detected PFAS in nine of the thirteen. None of the items without such claims tested positive. Seek bedding without claims they resist stains and water. Better your sheets are stained with PFAS than your ovaries. Make your first priority to avoid stain and water resistant products.
Cotton is a heavily sprayed crop. Organic latex, cotton, down, and wool are all available for bedding and mattresses. Wool is also highly flame resistant. Make sure there are no chemical treatments on the sheets, toppers, and coatings.
