Dateline on the hazards of reconditioned mattresses

April 22, 2008

All:

Last night, Dateline revisited the issue of reconditioned mattresses

and it's a real eye opener:

Apparently, some hotels purchase these reconditioned mattresses

because they are so inexpensive. The mattresses also find their way

into low income homes.

The stuffing in many cases was filthy, contained fungi and bed bug

debris. (They did not look for house-dust-mite allergens!)

I have had a few experiences with items that were even sold as new but

contaminated. In one case, a futon mattress was filled with mold,

pollen and insect debris after (presumably) being outdoors in the rain

and resold as new. Another new mattress contained wood char and pollen

and had obviously been in a warehouse fire and placed outdoors to dry.

One client who purchased a custom-made, $5,000 couch is still waiting

to get her money back because the feather stuffing was used material

and full of dust mite droppings.

Another mold-allergic and chemically sensitive client purchased a

$3,000 mattress that was supposedly pesticide-free and all-organic. It

was stuffed with all-moldy fibers.

Based on my experiences with these contaminated materials, the public

health consequences associated with reconditioned, " cushioned " items

are significant.

I would not even consider accepting a used mattress (unless it is

sealed airtight in a dust-mite encasing)and you know the donor.

I never had an allergy until I purchased a 30-year old bed for my

first apartment during college.

C. May

May Indoor Air Investigations LLC

Author, " Jeff May's Healthy Home Tips "

ww.mayindoorair.com

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