Last Friday 22 August I had ABC Radio National’s Life Matters talkback program on in the background and I noticed that it was about ‘chemical overload’ and one of the guests was respected science journalist Julian Cribb. He has just published a new book, Poisoned Planet: How constant exposure to man-made chemicals is putting your life at risk. My ears pricked up as I am chemically sensitive, which means that I have adverse reactions to some human-made chemicals, particularly volatile organic compounds which can be used in paints, carpets, plastics, fungicides etc. The causes of this condition are not well understood (it is not the same as classic ‘allergic’ reactions – which I also have), but seem to relate to an inability of the liver to process certain of these chemicals.
Listening to the program reminded me of an experience in 2011 when I purchased a new inner spring mattress. I decided to phone in to the Radio National talkback and share my experience. You can hear the whole Life Matters program here as a podcast (my phone-in appears at around the 32:50 time stamp). That call has motivated me to further document this experience and relevant implications in this post, for the benefit of others who may experience similar problems.
Back in 2011 I decided a new inner spring mattress was in order as my existing one had faithfully served for some 20 years! I soon purchased a suitable mattress and had it delivered to my home. On the first night of sleeping on it I woke up during the night with itching sensations all over my body. It was impossible to sleep. The next morning I started to ponder the cause of this. At first I thought we might have changed laundry detergents, and maybe it was something in the bed sheets. But no, nothing had changed there. The following night I tried sleeping on the mattress again, with the same result. I noticed that in addition to the itching, I had a general feeling of unwellness the longer that I lay on the bed – it was a ‘familiar’ feeling that I recognized from other episodes of chemical exposure. So I moved to our spare room and slept on an older mattress there and was completely free of symptoms.
It was becoming clear to me that there was something in the new mattress that was causing this reaction. I started to do some research. First, I looked at the label on the mattress, and noted that it included a pesticide or ‘anti-microbial treatment’ called Ultra-Fresh. This was supposed to ward off fungi, bacteria and dust mites. It turns out that Ultra-Fresh is a chemical treatment produced by Thomson Research Associates based in Toronto Canada. It is used in Australia by (among others) Dunlop Foams, who probably make the bulk of the bedding foam that is used in inner spring mattresses and other foam bedding.
Then I tried to track down what exactly Ultra-Fresh was made of. This was not as easy as it might seem, as all of the Ultra-Fresh consumer web sites pointedly omit any reference to its chemical composition. In addition, there are several different formulations of Ultra-Fresh, using different chemicals for different applications. However, from my Internet searches it appeared the most likely candidate was Ultra-Fresh DM-50. DM-50 is designed for use in polyurethane foams and there is evidence that it is used, for example, in some yoga mats.
The active ingredient in Ultra-Fresh DM-50 is tri-n-butyltin maleate (acronym: TBT). This compound is part of the so called ‘organotin’ family and has been used widely as an anti-barnacle and anti-fouling paint on ship hulls – with very bad results for creatures in the surrounding marine environment. Its use for this purpose was banned internationally in 2008 but apparently it is still used in a few poorly regulated jurisdictions.
After a bit more digging, I hit gold: I found an excellent report by the USA Environmental Protection Agency (digression: a big thank you to President Richard Nixon for establishing EPA in 1969, for and good ol’ USA information transparency :-)). The title of report is Reregistration Eligibility Decision for the Tributyltin Compounds: Bis(tributyltin) oxide, Tributyltin benzoate, and Tributyltin maleate (Case 2620). It is basically a detailed review and risk assessment of what uses are permitted (ie ‘registered’) for tributyltin in the USA. On page 12 of this document appears the following ‘incident report’ in relation to residential uses of tributyltin:
One incident was reported in which a woman was exposed to pillows treated with a product containing tributyltin maleate. The exposure routes were dermal and ocular. The woman developed swelling in her mouth, cheeks, neck, lips, and throat. She had difficulty speaking. She also suffered irritation of the eyes and mouth, quivering of the jaws, and a lack of concentration.
That one ‘incident’ was sufficient for me, as a chemically sensitive person, to decide I did not want to sleep on a mattress treated with Ultra-Fresh — assuming that Ultra-Fresh DM 50 was being used. Fortunately I was able to arrange to return the mattress to the supplier and got most of my money refunded. However, I still had a quandary: where could I get a mattress that that was NOT treated with Ultra-Fresh? It turns out that all inner spring mattresses in Australia now include this stuff in their foam – most likely supplied by Dunlop.
After some more Internet research I tracked down one retailer in Perth, Western Australia, who imports high quality foam mattresses from a German manufacturer. Due to a heightened awareness and concern about these chemical issues in parts of Europe, these mattresses are not treated with Ultra-Fresh or similar chemicals.
I am in Brisbane and Perth is on the other side of the country, but fortunately I do travel to Perth fairly frequently. I was able to visit the folks at Bedtek in Beaconsfield, and checked out their mattresses. I was suitably impressed and they were happy to ship the mattress (and a new bed frame as well) to me in Brisbane. Long story short, I received the new imported mattress from Bedtek and have had no problems ever since.
At minimum, this experience raises some basic questions of consumer and supplier awareness, and consumer choice. I wonder how many others there are out there who may be chemically sensitive and who are unwittingly being exposed, nightly and at close quarters, to an organic chemical which is adding to their daily chemical load? (Minimizing/avoiding chemical load is the basic recommended strategy for those with chemical sensitivities). For example, the following anecdote from a discussion group thread about the use of Ultra-Fresh in a ‘wool topper’ (wool mattress overlay) in 2010 is indicative:
Thank you, thank you for this information. It is a comfortable mattress indeed, but now knowing I’ve been sleeping on tricolsan or tributyltin maleate makes it perfectly clear to me why I got so sick within 2 weeks of sleeping on this dunlop mattress. I have been sick for 4 years now. I have multiple chemical sensitivity. It is severe, I am housebound & in constant pain. The first clue was the shortness of breath. Wouldn’t go away, no doctor could explain it. Then the crushing fatigue, I was a dance teacher & could suddenly not walk straight – and quickly not at all. I am so sick after sleeping on this mattress 3 years, but I became sick in much less than 1 month of it’s arrival. I have been off it a year but MCS does not disappear so quickly & I have a long road to recovery if ever I do (most don’t). Be so careful of what you sleep on, the flame retardants in mattresses are health hazard enough but if you see anything marked “ultra-fresh” remember my story & I hope you will be luckier than I.
One may also lament the total lack of awareness of these issues among bedding retailers and indeed the manufacturers of these products. The irony is that these Ultra-Fresh mattresses are often promoted as ‘allergy-free’ because they do indeed reduce the prevalence of dust mites which are a cause of respiratory allergies. But there is no awareness that Ultra-Fresh may also be contra-indicated for allergy sufferers who also happen to be chemically sensitive. At the very least, labeling on mattresses could warn of this possibility. (I also do wonder about the long term impacts of such chemicals on those who are not chemically sensitive – but I guess that is another story….)
The other obvious option from a consumer point of view is for suppliers to provide a choice for consumers as to whether they want their mattresses treated with Ultra-Fresh. I suspect that it is only quite recently (ie past decade) that this treatment has become virtually standard on all mattresses in Australia. There are no doubt other ways to manage the problem of fungi and dust mites in bedding, rather than having this one chemical solution imposed across the entire marketplace.
The broader irony here is that all of these human-made chemicals have been developed and widely applied to solve real human problems – how to ensure clean bedding, improve human health etc. (See this quite fascinating article about the use of antimicrobials in textitles which highlights the health aspects). But what is often not appreciated in the positive or optimistic narrative of technological progress is that modern technologies almost invariably incur both risks and benefits. Too often the benefits are foregrounded while the risks and harms are not thoroughly investigated, understood or regulated.
Which brings me to a very interesting conclusion contained in the EPA report cited above, on page 29:
Based on the risk assessment and the assumptions cited above, and in the absence of relevant data, the Agency has determined that the uses of TBT on textiles and related materials that have the potential for prolonged dermal exposure or incidental oral exposure (e.g., clothing, mattress and pillow covers and ticking, sponges, mop heads, canvas or other fabrics for furniture cushions and hammocks) are not eligible for reregistration (emphasis added). The uses of TBT in textiles and related materials that are not associated with prolonged human exposure (e.g., paper, fiberfill or foam in upholstered furniture (but not for mattress pads); carpet backing; air filters; rubber mats; canvas and other fabrics for tarps, awnings, and tents; and webbing used for golf course/driving range protective netting, netting for baseball batting cages, and tennis nets) are eligible for reregistration. Labeling is required to prohibit the use of paper containing TBT for direct and indirect food contact.
This raises an interesting question: why then is Dunlop apparently using Ultra-Fresh DM 50 for its mattress foam in Australia if the EPA is not endorsing it? Of course technically, EPA regulation does not extend to Australia, but the USA EPA is regarded as the flagship for environmental risk assessment and regulation.
The main Ultra-Fresh web site claims that:
Ultra-Fresh has had to pass the most stringent testing procedures for safety and efficacy to meet international regulatory guidelines. Ultra-Fresh is US EPA registered, BPD compliant and Oeko-Tex listed, and complies with all regulatory requirements of each country where it is sold.
Yes, Ultra-Fresh is US EPA registered, but for what uses is that registration valid? By my reading of the EPA’s 2008 Registration Eligibility Decision, Ultra Fresh DM 50 is NOT valid for bedding.
I conclude with the caveat that I am not yet 100 per cent certain that Dunlop is using DM 50 (rather than another formulation of Ultra-Fresh which does not contain tributyltin), although the evidence so far points that way. I will be making further enquiries of Dunlop and the Australian regulatory authorities, and will be happy to stand corrected if I am mistaken in my interpretation of the situation. Watch this space.
This is one example, imagine how much else is out there that is being ignored.
Just read your post after purchasing 2 mini jumbuck woollen quilts….I opened one at home and couldn’t breathe. I did ask whether they were treated with chemicals like Ultra Fresh as I am aware of it, so was looking for the green symbol…..nothing on box. When I checked more thoroughly at home, there is a line on the side of the cardboard cover that says it is treated. Very deceiving and am questioning why it wasn’t on box? It is obvious on their internet site. Will return to Adairs tomorrow for a refund, yet it won’t stop there. I will take this further as most of the reviews talk about this stink….and it is chemicals as I am also very sensitive and cannot go near stuff like this. I react instantly. Please keep us posted!
Hi Sabine, sorry to hear about your experience. We absolutely need better labelling about these chemicals. For example the labels do not specify exactly what chemical is used in the particular Ultra Fresh formulation. My guess is that it could be Ultra Fresh PF-1, which is thiabendazole (sheep dip). See details in my other post. Good luck in tracking this down and I would be interested to hear what you find. By not considering the impacts of these chemicals on quite a few people, producers of these consumer goods are actually missing out on extra customers.
Peter
Thank you for posting this. I was about to purchase a mattress protector to block out dust and allergens, which was coated with this “Ultra Fresh DM-50”. I am so glad that I didn’t. Thanks to websites like this, and the concerned, conscious individuals who use them, we just might be able to filter out the damaging toxic elements around us.
Came across this post whilst researching Dunlop Ultra-Fresh, as we’re thinking of having an old lounge suite restored and this is the foam they use. Did you get any further with finding out for certain what sort of ultra-fresh chemical Dunlop uses?
Hi Peter, I read your post about the chemicals and mattresses and was wondering if you could tell me about the bedtek mattress you bought. As I am considering buying one myself but not sure what they compare to or which model to buy.Would you mind letting me know which one you bought and how it feels? Are you still happy with it? And have you had any problems with sagging or indentations? Does it compare to a tempur or other memory foam mattresses in the big retail shops? Thanks Peter, much appreciated.
regards,
Terry
Hi Terry, sorry about the long delay in reply, I realise it may be too late to be useful for you. I purchased the Swissflex Coldfoam firm mattress (EU Queen size). Yes I am very happy with it. Initially, found this ‘firm’ mattress to be TOO firm. As a solution I found a queen size ‘topper’ made of polyester ingredients (and with no other chemicals that affect me). I put this topper on and it provides a perfect degree of softness and firmness. This cold foam is definitely not the same as memory foam. The latter is full of toxics. Cold foam is a different process and definitely chemical free. Have had this mattress since August 2011 (4 years now) and absolutely no sagging and no other problems. I can definitely recommend it.
Sorry about the delay in replying. In answer to your question about the Ultra-Fresh chemical used in Dunlop foam, see my update post: https://peakdecisions.org/2014/09/update-on-chemicals-in-bedding/
As this story was posted some time ago… Am wondering if you could recommend single mattress that is good for sinus / allergy sufferers that is not from bedtek as they are required to be used with adjustable slat base.
Yes I am aware of the health risks associated with Ultra Fresh and chemicals on & within bed foams, bedding etc. I have researched extensively and the general public ARE VERY UNAWARE what is being swept under the carpet so to speak! Are the big bedding companies aware, do they train their staff to cover up and lie about dangerous chemicals to potential customers?Or are they being hoodwinked as well? This will be another James Hardy type situation in the future. It’s far worse than many people realise. I am buying my mattress/bedding from the Natural Bedding Co in Sydney. Clean, no chemicals. Consumers have to stand up as well and say no to bad practices!
Good investigating. I googled ultra-fresh and their site was vague on the safety of the product, then I found this site. It’s sad that we have to take it upon ourselves to rigorously research stuff in order to buy a safer product, as we cannot trust our corrupted governments any longer.
Thanks again, I will not be buying the ultra-fresh undies now!! haha
Thank you for your comment, glad this post has been of help.
Thank you for your comment, and yes I agree the situation is quite serious but people are unaware. It takes a lot of effort to find alternatives that do not contain all of these chemicals.
Marie, thank you for your comment and sorry I did not reply earlier. It is hard to generalize as to what is best alternative mattress. I have had success with one of the foam mattresses from Ikea — the model that I purchased did not have any extra added chemicals (except of course the chemicals to make the foam, but I do not react to those).
Hi. I found this site while googling the chemical Ultra Fresh. I am chemically sensitive but have managed to keep it under control for the last few years except for the occasional outburst ! So here am I simply looking for a new duvet and its proving to be some challenge.
Originally I was sure I wanted merino wool, I need great warmth as I am moving to Bulgaria. Problem with wool duvets tend to be thin and I like thick and fluffy so I move onto the down option and then I learn that many birds are live plucked for their feathers so how can I have a good nights sleep under their feathers with that knowledge. OK says I, it will have to be microfibre and then I discover Ultra Fresh!!!! So I am considering the wool option again, what are the nasties hiding in that product, anyone know ?
Thank you for your comment, Mandy. As for wool products, a good start is to check the labelling.
Thanks for this useful info Peter!
We had a MiniJumbuck wool topper on our bed, and I removed it as I was concerned about what it might be treated with. All of our sheets etc. are certified organic, and I felt a bit concerned about having this ‘washable’ wool topper underneath, after what I’d read about washable wool. I used to get a lot of night itches – mild but annoying – and these seem to have disappeared after removing the topper (I now have some certified organic mattress overlays underneath instead). No doubt our mattress is treated with Ultrafresh, but at least we now have some chemical-free barriers between that and the sheets. The topper was sooo expensive, and I thought I was making a good investment buying it until I found out more about the nasty chemicals that can be lurking in our bedding. I’m kicking myself for buying it – I could’ve bought a chemical free wool mattress topper from Blessed Earth for the same price or less!
I decided to look up some more information on Ultrafresh and the other treatments MiniJumbuck use before deciding what to do long-term with our mattress topper. This is how I came across this page… thanks so much Peter for sharing your experiences. I thought maybe I was being a bit paranoid about Ultrafresh, but it seems not!
For anyone interested, I’ve found Blessed Earth and Organature very helpful when it comes to reducing the chemical load in my bedroom (and beyond). They sell various chemical free bedding products, most of them certified organic (GOTS certification). These include mattress toppers (wool from Blessed Earth and cotton from Organature), mattress protectors, sheets, doonas, doona covers, and even mattresses. They provide a lot of detail on the manufacture of their products, and can provide more information on request. The person who founded Organture apparently suffered from chemical sensitivities, so is very aware of this issue.
I believe rubbing a fine layer of food grade diatomaceous earth into a mattress topper can help kill dust mites and deter mould etc. (it has to be food grade DE, and wear a mask during application to prevent temporary respiratory irritation). Also vacuuming the mattress and topper regularly can help. Much safer methods than sleeping on chemicals! Wish I’d known this a while ago!
Thank you Louise, very helpful information.
Hi, very interesting posts. I’ve just bought a new bed. It had a very strong chemical smell but no explanation except it’s a ‘new bed smell, like lots of new products. Just like a new car’. This worried me re VOCs. The smell has diminished but I am having some throat changes (internal swelling) which makes me wonder if it’s the residual smell in the bedroom, and not the winter wind. There’s contact heat build up too. It’s a battle now with the manufacturer and the retailer. I’ve never had this ‘new bed’ bull before with purchases over the last 30yrs. Where is the health protection for consumers?
Thank you for your comments. If you can smell something coming from the bed, then in my experience it is quite likely that you are sensitive to it, and it could affect you. Generally, those who don’t notice any of the outgassing, are probably not sensitive to it. Hence many people are quite unaware of the problem, although of course if the outgassing is strong enough, more people will notice.
hi, do you have any bed recommendations in 2017? my sagging old futon is hurting my back, and i find the futon makers a bit dodgy, so was looking at a comfortable inner spring or latex mattress. if you know the name of any non-toxic ones, please let me know.
regards, genevieve
I had same story and I never new what’s actually happening. I purchased memory foam matress Indulgence from Lloyd Action in Gold Coast 1 year ago (which they still have on sale every Sunday action), when we open plastic the smell was like petrol with paint very strong! We aired it for few days, and start using. After 1 month I start developing hives all over my body, and I was so stupid to think that this is new washing powder. I was going to doctors and everyone told me they don’t now what’s happen. I had tons of allergy medicine, every single day, until I realise that it might be a matress. Overnight , just sleeping on the floor, I had all my hives gone, and I throw the matress. And worse think was that I am pregnant, it was scary me. I am sleeping now on very old matress. I found that IKEA selling one matress that people say it’s natural and not sprayed. I am going to go tomorrow see that matress. I just can’t sleep anymore like that. And when I went to multiple shops and ask what they spray mattresses they are telling that this is Ultra fresh … something , which is they call natural refreshner. Shops like Harvey Norman and sleep maker should have a more knowledge about product. And nobody sell anything natural without spraying chemicals. Looks like Australia wanted to reduce population by next 10 years.
Good job with the research and you really wrote a great article explaining your experience. The more consumers who are motivated to be informed, the more pressure on industries to be transparent.
Thank you Irene, we do need to keep up the pressure but unfortunately the staff on the sales floor do not seem to be well-informed.
Thank you Kira, I am very sorry to hear about your story. I hope you have found something suitable.
Hi Genevieve, my suggestions are still pretty much the same: (a) ‘cold foam’ mattresses which can still be obtained from BedTek in Western Australia; (b) futon (although you would need to check specific ingredients); (c) Ikea has some thin foam mattresses that do not seem to have any extra treatments on them — so may be worth checking out. (Although I did visit an Ikea recently and had to retreat from the building because it seems like a lot of their furniture products have some additives, maybe formaldehyde, and it was giving me a bad reaction!).
Hi Peter,
Thanks for this informative forum!
I came across this web site & comments whilst trying to research Ultra Fresh, a product I had not heard of until less than 2 weeks ago.
I have always been sensitive to certain chemicals, but have not always been aware of what was causing my symptoms.
Less than 2 weeks ago I purchased a Mini Jumbuk king size woollen doona to replace my 30 year old queen size from same manufacturer. The old one has never given me any issues & served me well for so long. Only reason for replacing was for a larger size, due to buying a new bed.
The minute I opened up the box & started fitting it into my doona cover I could smell a strong chemical smell, like bleach. My husband couldn’t smell it, so I thought I was over reacting. Every time I went into the room it was overwhelming, my eyes were affected & if I spoke it seemed to get into my mouth & throat, tasting very bitter!
Sleeping under it had the same reaction, & I could taste it on my lips for most of the day when I was at home. As my husband couldn’t smell it, I persevered with it. I woke with a sore throat most mornings. I aired it on the line several times, but having such close contact with the doona whilst doing that only made me feel worse!
Today I rang the manufacturer who said that Ultra Fresh has no odour & is NOT a chemical & is very safe! When I asked what it was, they said it is called DW56. I have researched this & it’s a pesticide, & there’s nothing in that article that made me feel better about it being on my bed!!!
I believe a pesticide is a chemical?
Mini Jumbuk have offered me a replacement insert? I don’t think it will be any different? After 10 days the smell is now diminishing, but not entirely.
Last night was the first night that my eyes, nose & throat didn’t sting.
I have also purchased sheets/pillow cases from Blessed Earth several years ago. I have found their certified Organic Simple Luxury sheet sets are the best pure cotton sheets I’ve ever owned in over 40 years!
They also sell woollen doonas but I resisted buying it from them as although I know they are certified organic & not treated with any pesticides, they retain their natural “sheep” smell as I bought bed toppers from them last year! Although that smell does go away eventually, but isn’t pleasant.
I had no idea what I was getting into with my purchase of an Ultra Fresh treated product, & now feel the “sheep” smell would be infinitely better!!!
For anyone interested, the new mattress I purchased in January this year is not treated with Ultra Fresh! I didn’t know that at the time, but have checked on it today. At that time, I had no idea that most mattresses were treated, so am lucky in that regard! Check out Sleeping Duck mattress!
Hi Lana, can i ask what mattress from sleeping duck did you purchase? are you happy with it. im in need of a new mattress ASAP. Thanks in advance.
Hi Tracey,
They only do one mattress, in different sizes. However they do a replaceable customised top. We started with the firm & my husband then customised his to extra firm section for lower back. I tried medium but it was too soft. Went back to firm but felt I needed some extra softness on top of it. Do I bought a new wool topper & that is perfect now.
Check out their web site & ring them as well. Read the reviews too.
No chemical smell !!!!!!!!
I’m happy with my choice of a sleeping duck mattress.
Lana, just wondering what ‘wool mattress topper’ you bought?
I’m looking at Blessed Earth – though I see from your comment that you experienced a strong sheep wool smell from your topper. I don’t think that will bother me too much.. hard to say unless I purchase it & see how strong it is I guess.. but I am wondering what wool topper you got as an alternative to this? I like that it says the ‘Blessed Earth’ topper it’s about 5cm thick, as I’m looking for something to soften the bed a bit.
I’m also looking at buying their sheets 🙂
Thank you for this post. I was just about to order a ball fibre topper for a mattress thinking ‘it will be ok’.
I have a cotton mattress but the toppers they sell are horrendous in price and so I’m trying to find a cheaper alternative but it appears cheaper always means chemical filled.
I have ball fibre toppers on both kids beds. Fortunately they are covered with layers of protectors for bedwetting but I’m now curious if the bed wet protectors are also ‘ultrafreshed’!
Hi Leanne O,
I have only just seen your comment/question from quite a while ago! Are you still interested in a reply, as I’m sure you’ve purchased something in this time?
I did not receive a notification about this question, but hopefully will receive one now.
Thank you for sharing this. And it’s written so well. I’m writing this nearly 10 years to the day that you published, as part of a new direction I’ve discovered since learning about PFAS forever chemicals. It makes me wonder what’s so wrong about microbes anyway.
Hi
I have only just found this site, Ultra Fresh had me sick for a few years and getting sicker by the week, I bought a new bed and bedding, I started having issues with eyes watering, then a cough and then wheezy, I had just bought a new bed and all new bedding and underlay. After a while it just came to me perhaps there was something I was allergic to on the new bed, I slept in the spare room on all my older bed and bedding and started getting better, I did some research and came upon Ultrafresh. I had all the symptoms that others had. I ended up buying a latex bed, silk quilts, latex pillows and started getting better. Moving on a few years started having the cough back again and problem swallowing some foods, I came across an article food companies using Ultrafresh in baked products. So we start again, bread and cakes have it in, apparently it doesn’t take effect till the products are 3 days old, so fresh bread not to bad but after 3 days it was hard to swallow the bread. I have a cough I can’t seem to get rid of so now we start again and get the bead maker out. Just be aware anything antibacterial normally has Ultrafresh in. Silk quilts are great from Mulberry Silk products, pure latex mattresses and pillows, wool blankets are great. I also avoid sponge, you used to have a choice whether you had it treated now all treated. Hope this helps. Keep as many things as you can natural.
Janine Lusher