Conventional Mattress

New synthetic mattress off-gassing.

54Moderate burden · out of 100

Cleaner swapA CertiPUR-US or GOTS/GOLS-certified mattress; air out new ones

How this score is built

100Start
81.6Chemical hazard 4 × 4.6−18.4
64.6Everyday exposure 5 × 3.4−17
54Persistence 4 × 2.6−10.4, then rounded to 54
ModerateThe band54 sits in 40–59.

What each input rests on

The three ratings behind the score, and the studies each rests on
Input	Rating	Evidence
Chemical hazard	4/10	unsourced input
Everyday exposure	5/10	All 20 new and used crib mattresses tested emitted VOCs, new ones more than used; with an infant thermal manikin, total VOC concentrations in the breathing zone were 1.8 to 2.4 times those in the room air. Infant exposure to emissions of volatile organic compounds from crib mattresses · Environ Sci Technol 2014 DOI 10.1021/es405625q · PMID 24548111 · Abstract · read 2026-10-12
Persistence	4/10	unsourced input

Ratings are editorial. A study listed here supports the rating; it did not compute it. How the index is built

What this means for you

You spend a third of your life in contact with it, and new synthetic mattresses can off-gas VOCs and carry flame retardants. Certified low-emission foam or natural latex reduces both.

Evidence strength: moderate

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Lower-exposure choices

Vinegar & Baking Soda CleaningMinimal · Home

All 36 home entries, highest burden first →