By Elisabeth Leamy

Jan 19, 2012 7:00am
The Indoor Pollution Threat You May Not Have Known Existed

Americans spend 90 percent of their time indoors, but have you ever thought about the purity of the air that you are breathing as you sit inside your home, office or even a restaurant?

Indoor air quality is considered to be the fourth greatest pollution threat to Americans by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Even if you can never see, and can’t always smell, the chemicals inside your home, they are there. It comes from cleaning products, drycleaning chemicals, plastic products like computer keyboards, furniture, paint, carpeting and more.

With the help of the Greenguard Environmental Institute, part of Underwriters Laboratories, “Good Morning America ” set out to investigate exactly what kind of threat indoor air pollution posed to the average person by setting up a child’s nursery with a new crib, changing table, rocker and decorations.

Seven days of testing later, the results were in. The air in our new nursery contained 300 different chemicals – compared to just two right outside the same house. The EPA confirms that indoor air is usually more polluted than outdoor air.

The rocker in the nursery contained seven times California’s recommended level of formaldehyde, a chemical known to cause cancer. The crib mattress gave off more than 100 different chemicals, including industrial solvents and alcohols. Meanwhile, the paint used on the nursery’s walls contained chemical gases at five times the recommended limit.

Yet, none of the products used in the “GMA” testing were in violation of any law. Fortunately for consumers, there are easy, practical steps you can take today to minimize you and your family’s exposure to your home’s chemicals.

Look for certifications. Certifications for low chemical emissions are in their infancy, but the more people who buy and request certified products, the more there will be. Greenguard , part of Underwriters Laboratories, certifies furniture, paint, and other office and household products. Scientific Certification Systems is another certifier. And, for carpet, you can look for the “Green Label Plus” created by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI).

Choose unscented products. Many manufacturers make both scented and unscented versions of their products. Always choose the unscented ones.

Avoid pressed wood. Pressed wood and wood composite materials are manufactured using strong glues that often contain volatile organic compounds.

Unwrap. When you buy new furniture, unpackage it outdoors and let it sit outside for at least one week to air out. Similarly, make sure to unwrap your dry-cleaning outdoors before bringing it into your house.

Ventilate. Try to paint in the spring and fall when you can comfortably leave your windows open for ventilation. Same goes for new furniture or cabinetry. Keep your windows open for a couple of weeks, if possible.

Paint first. It’s a good idea to paint your home first, then ventilate for several days before installing new carpeting and other textiles. That’s because these products can absorb chemicals from the paint and re-release them into the air over time.

Buy used. Chemical emissions are at their highest when a product is brand new, so one solution is to buy used furniture that has already off-gassed in somebody else’s house. (Unless that used furniture has just been refinished.) Just be careful, because you want the latest safety features in things like baby cribs. And you should look for furniture built after 1978, when lead paint was banned.

Organic Toddler Bedding the safest choice for your toddler and earth.

Organic wool is also one of the most versatile and healthy choices for bedding or clothing. It is sensitive to your body’s temperature – keeping you warm in winter and comfortable in summer.

Organic wool is naturally resistant to dust mites, molds, mildews and odors. Organic wool is almost entirely non-allergenic.

Organic wool is naturally resistant to flames, and will not “catch fire”, and is the best way to guard against fire-related injuries. This makes wool one of the safest choices for toddler bedding, and is specifically used in organic bedding products. Unlike down bedding which shifts over time (ie. bare spots in a comforter), wool stays in place.

Natural wool is a traditional fill, used in bedding throughout the ages. Our grandmothers knew the many benefits that wool provides.

With proper care your woolen bedding can last for decades.

Wool draws moisture away from the body, keeping a layer of insulating dry air next to the skin leaving you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. A natural temperature regulator, wool’s countless tiny coils are able to absorb moisture without feeling damp, drawing it away from your body so that it can evaporate. Wool is naturally flame retardant. Wool’s crimpiness allows it to keep its resiliency. It cradles your body as you sleep and bounces back to it’s original loft when you get out of bed. Wool will provide the most dry, health and comfy sleeping surface for years.

Visit  http://www.toddlerbeddingexpress.com for top quality organic wool toddler bedding.

Silky Bamboo Cotton Sheet Sets

Wrap your self in the softness of the luxurious 100% silky bamboo sheets like those found in royalty homes. You won’t be able to go back to cotton sheets after trying these 100% bamboo sheets. Amazingly soft similar to cashmere of silk. 60% more absorbent than cotton. Sustainable, fast growth rate over 1 meter per day. Requires significantly less pesticides than cotton and is naturally irrigated. Natural anti-bacterial and deodorizing properties.

* Extremely comfortable in all temperatures

* Very environmentally friendly

* Perfect for people with allergies and chemical sensitivity.

* 100% Viscose from Bamboo cotton

* Bamboo is one of the softest fabric in the world, noticeably softer than cotton

*Bamboo cotton sheets naturally hug the body like Silk sheets do

* Bamboo is grown without pesticides

* Bamboo is highly resistant to dust mites

* Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants becasue of it’s ability to absorb water and is thus a very environmentally friendly material. These are the ” Greenest Sheets” around. This explain why bamboo sheets wick so much water away from the body, keeping people dry and comfortable.

Machine wash in cold water. Delicate cycle with mild detergent. No Bleach. Tumble Dry on low heat. Remove immediately at end of cycle. Press with warm iron if needed. Do not Use Hot water.

7-  Colors to choose from.

• Sets Include:
  
• 1- Fitted Sheet
  
• 1- Flat Sheet
  
• 2- Pillow Cases

100% Bamboo Cotton Sheet Sets

Buy Your Silky Bamboo Cotton Sheet Sets At Toddler Bedding Express Today.

Throughout the past two centuries, Egyptian cotton has prevailed as one of Egypt’s biggest competitive advantages in the world. With an established reputation of being the “best” cotton in the world, its softness, strength and superior characteristics, have positioned products made of Egyptian cotton as the world’s finest. Egyptian cotton has not gained such a reputation without reason. Egyptian cotton “is” the world’s finest cotton. Our 100% Egyptian Cotton Bedding products are 5 Star hotel quality. Super heavy weight and very soft and comfortable.

Skilled Egyptian cotton farmers, many of whom learned their craft from their parents and grandparents, carefully harvest only the very best cotton plants. Strict government controls and family pride have guaranteed strains of pure, high quality cotton for the past eight decades.

Free from pesticides and modern machinery, cotton grows stronger in Egypt than anywhere else in the world. Picking this beautiful cotton by hand results in very long strands of fiber – sometimes an inch and a half long!

Compared to the short, frayed, abused cotton strands produced by factory farms in other parts of the world, Egyptian cotton weaves into a strong, resilient, comfortable fabric.

Not only is this cotton soft and luxurious, the high thread count produces a sheet that is both smooth and durable.

100% Royal Egyptian Cotton that is hand-picked and cultivated organically with no pesticides.

100% Egyptian Cotton Fine Bedding and Bath Linens. Discover the difference of sleeping on the finest Egyptian cotton bedding in all the land.

Toddler Bedding Express is now carrying Luxurious Egyptian Cotton Bedding.

100% Egyptian Cotton Fine Bedding and Bath Linens

Did you know that every time you fall asleep you are breathing harmful toxins if you are not sleeping on organic bedding? Pillows, blankets, sheets and your mattress all contain toxins from pesticides. If 2 million pounds of organic cotton were used to make towels or washcloths it would eliminate an estimated 43,000 pounds of pesticides not to mention the 486,000 pounds of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers used. These pesticides and other agricultural chemicals wash into the earth and its water. They kill fish and other water life, pollute drinking water and leave remains on the cotton. Would you want to sleep on pesticides or have your children or babies sleeping on them and breathing them?

Physicians and other health professionals are becoming more and more aware of the possible effects these toxic chemicals and the increased numbers in childhood disorders as well as SIDS. Infants spend an average of 12 hours a day in their cribs and could be sleeping on a mattress that contains harmful toxic chemicals. Your family’s bedding is also treated with formaldehyde and harsh industrial fire retardant chemicals. These chemicals can accumulate in your blood and cause respiratory problems as well as cancer. There are no requirements on labeling these chemicals that pollute air, cause asthma and learning disorders.

You can take control of your family’s safety simply by replacing mattresses, blankets and sheets with organic bedding. This would eliminate toxic chemicals in a place where your children spend a good portion of their time. Organic cotton is naturally grown and has a low rate of combustion eliminating harsh industrial fire retardant chemicals. The naturally grown cotton used to make your family’s bedding does not contain phthalates, vinyl (PVC), polyurethane foam or toxic fire retardant chemicals.

If you don’t want to worry about what your family is coming in contact with while they sleep, shop organic. It is the easiest solution when fighting against the harmful toxins in your baby’s and family’s bedding. There are many other harmful things your children will come in contact with over the years; their bedding shouldn’t be one.

My name is Jodie Ritch and I am mother, an aunt and a homemaker, always looking for the safest products for my family. I am part of a family owned internet organic bedding store specializing in toddler bedding. Visit  Toddler Bedding Express today for more useful information when choosing your family’s bedding.

Our main focus is safe organic bedding, natural health and comfort for your whole family.  Natural and Organic Toddler Bedding, a smart choice for parents. All products are free of toxic and synthetic chemicals and made in the USA. Products are Co-op America Approved.

Toddlerbeddingexpress.com.

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Environmental concerns do to the use of Vinyl/PVC. Vinyl/PVC is used in the making of mattress covers, which can release various biocides, such as phthalates, antimony a chemical additive that is released in the air over time. Most people don’t check to see whats used in the making of the products they buy and use everyday. Mostly because we were unaware of what the effects of these dangerous chemicals were.

Why would you buy a mattress that contained Polyurethane foam? Polyurethane foam is essentially “foamified” petroleum and is extremely flammable. Polyurethane foam is heavily treated with PBDEs a fire retardant chemical. This chemical has been band in California and across Europe.  Again if you new this fire retardant chemical was used in your mattress you probably wouldn’t buy it. We have to much trust in what materials manufactures use to make our products. It’s like they didn’t care about the outcome of what this extremely flammable chemical could have.

What about woven nylon fabrics? Is nylon an improvement over vinyl/PVC? Yes, but typically they still contain the same biocides as vinyl/PVC, which are questionable fire retardants. Also nylon is not fully waterproof and it will stain. Nylon must be treated with a chemical coating in order to make it water resistant. Even though nylon is a improvement, it’s still not pure and non-toxic.

A typical crib mattress is made with many chemicals that have been linked to childhood health problems. Fire retardants and other dangerous chemicals are in the vinyl and foam cover of a typical standard crib mattress. Physicians are beginning to recommend organic crib mattresses as a way to avoid unnecessary exposure to these chemicals. If you are not sleeping on an Organic Cotton or Eco-Wool Mattress you unknowingly may be laying in some kind of chemical. Putting your innocent children to sleep on anything but Organic Bedding can be potentially unhealthy.

Organic cotton is not sprayed with any insecticides or pesticides making it safe for the environment as well as you and your children. Organic cotton is the purest form of cotton. This cotton is grown without chemicals, like synthetic fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, or genetically modified organisms. Sustainable and organic growing methods support biodiversity and healthy ecosystems, improving the quality of the soil, using less water and helping to prevent groundwater pollution. Organic farmers rely on crop rotation to replenish and maintain soil fertility. Mechanical cultivation and botanical or biological means are used to control weeds and pests. A field must be pesticide-free for at least three years to be certified organic, and the cotton must be processed according to international organic standards. The standards also set strict guidelines for transportation and storage to avoid cross-contamination. In the U.S., cotton labeled as organic has to be certified by an independent agency recognized by the USDA’s National Organic Program.

Many things that you use in your everyday lives could be making you and your children sick without even knowing. These chemicals can cause cancers, and a number of childhood disorders. Please as parents of such precious gifts, be informed about what you are exposing your children to as well as yourself. For more information on the benefits of Natural and Organic Bedding please visit Toddler Bedding Express for all your organic bedding comfort and needs.

My name is Clint Ritch, I am the owner and founder of  Toddler Bedding Express. We are a family run business that deals in natural and organic bedding. Products are all handmade in the USA. Help build a stronger economy in the place where we live. Creating more jobs and helping rid the use of toxic chemicals in the products we use everyday. http://www.toddlerbeddingexpress.com
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Organic wool is also one of the most versatile and healthy choices for bedding or clothing. It is sensitive to your body’s temperature – keeping you warm in winter and comfortable in summer.

Organic wool is naturally resistant to dust mites, molds, mildews and odors. Organic wool is almost entirely non-allergenic.

Organic wool is naturally resistant to flames, and will not “catch fire”, and is the best way to guard against fire-related injuries. This makes wool one of the safest choices for toddler bedding, and is specifically used in organic bedding products. Unlike down bedding which shifts over time (ie. bare spots in a comforter), wool stays in place.

Natural wool is a traditional fill, used in bedding throughout the ages. Our grandmothers knew the many benefits that wool provides.

With proper care your woolen bedding can last for decades.

Wool draws moisture away from the body, keeping a layer of insulating dry air next to the skin leaving you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. A natural temperature regulator, wool’s countless tiny coils are able to absorb moisture without feeling damp, drawing it away from your body so that it can evaporate. Wool is naturally flame retardant. Wool’s crimpiness allows it to keep its resiliency. It cradles your body as you sleep and bounces back to it’s original loft when you get out of bed?. Wool will provide the most dry, healthful and comfy sleeping surface for years on end.

Visit Toddler Bedding Express for a great selection for eco-friendly wool products.

One side features a waterproof organic cotton cover, in case of a accidental bed wetting, no need for a mattress protector pad.  Or if that is not a worry just flip it over to the other side to a  luxuriously quilted organic cotton bottom cover for a more mature feeling mattress surface resembling a conventional adult mattress.

The 2 in 1 Ultra Mattress Set is made with 100% organic cotton, it promotes a healthy and more chemical-free sleeping environment for your child.  The heavy-duty orthopedic innerspring, “Twin – 360 Coils, Full – 528 Coils”  provides ideal medium-firm support.  In addition, it has heavy-duty border rods add strong side and edge support.  Their is no need for an additional dust mite barrier encasing the mattress.  You don’t need to worry about the mattress catching fire.  Cotton does not burst into flames or release deadly fumes when ignited (as compared with polyurethane foam).  Exclusive fire protection system features a non-toxic and naturally derived fire barrier system that is safe and effective. It meets and exceeds all Federal and State flammability standards without the use of potentially harmful chemicals.  If you desire a foundation for the mattress.  We carry a great foundation made from the same premium materials as the mattress plus FSC certified wood (harvested from a renewable eco-friendly forest).
All Naturepedic^® mattresses are guaranteed to be free of the following materials and chemicals:
Vinyl (Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC)
Phthalates
Polyurethane Foam
PBDEs (Brominated Fire Retardants)
Polyacrylonitrile (PAN), Modacrylic, Antimony, etc .Scrap or Pig Hair Fiber Pads

The versatile 2 in 1 Organic Cotton Ultra will grow with you child for many years.  It is highly versatile, combining waterproof on one side and quilted on the other side, while eliminating potentially harmful chemicals from your child’s sleep environment.

You will save the time and hassle of transporting it home.  We ship it right to you home for Free. Plus, we are giving you a Free Organic Cotton Pillow, when you purchase a Naturepedic twin, full, or queen mattress, in April.

Visit us today at: Toddler Bedding Express for great deals or just look around.  We have 40 specials and a Free Gift.

Naturalpedic Organic Cotton Mattress Ultra, Twin- Full Size

Baby Crib & Toddler Bedding FREE STUFF.
Toddler Bedding Express is giving their customers a Free Gift with orders of $50.00 or more, plus Free Shipping.
All our bedding products are made of the finest natural and organic materials on earth. Yes, Chemical Free and hand crafted in the USA, Guaranteed to meet high standards of quality workmanship and reasonable price. We have planned some great sales throughout our entire store for the month of April. You will be able to view all baby crib and toddler bedding that is on sale in one convenient place. Just click on the Specials button.
Also we have even more great news. Purchase a  Naturepedic twin, full or queen mattresses you will receive a organic cotton pillow, “FREE” queen size mattress, two “FREE” pillows.  You have the option of a organic cotton LJ50 toddler pillow or LS50 standard size pillow. Simply the healthiest mattresses available.
You can feel confident that we will take great care of you and all your information while shopping on our site.
Visit Toddler Bedding Express today and start enjoying the benefits that organic bedding can do for your family’s comfort, health, economy and our earth.

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