Mattress Forum

I am concerned about latex
Feb 2, 2008 2:28 PM
sting
Joined: Feb 2, 2008
Points: 4
Hello everyone,

I am in the process of finding a new mattress. I now have a very old and worn out futon mattress. And it has to go very soon.

I have been out trying different kinds of mattresses, and the ones I like the most are latex mattresses. I had decided to buy one, but then I began hearing about latex allergy. I am quite sure that I dont have latex allergy, but still I am concerned.

With regard to latex in mattresses, here is how I understand it:There are people that say that you shouldnt worry about mattresses made out of latex, because people that are allergic to latex are allergic to a protein in latex that is washed out of the latex in the manufacturing process of the mattress. But....

...we cant be sure of this, apparently. There are studies that show that scientists have been able to extract these allergen proteins out of latex mattresses. And honest sellers of latex mattresses do not advocate latex mattresses to people that have latex allergy. But why if the protein allergens have been washed out ? Well, the sellers themselves say that you cant be 100 percent sure that all the proteins have been washed out.

That is why I think that perhaps latex mattresses should be a concern for people that are not allergic. I am concerned that people are at risk of DEVELOPING A LATEX ALLERGY. We hear so much about people working with latex at their jobs DEVELOPING latex allergies. (That a higher percentage of people in this group have latex allergies - up to 10 percent or more) If people working with latex 8 hours a day develop latex allergies because they are so close to it for such an extended period of time, why wouldnt people that sleep close to latex proteins (assuming that there are still some left in the mattress even after being washed severel times) be at risk of developing latex allergy ?

I am very interested to hear what your thoughts are on this. I very much want to buy a latex mattress, (I have tried some that fits me very well, that I feel are very comfortable) but am not sure if it is such a good idea in light of what I have just been writing. I hope someone out there can calm my mind, and convince me rationally that it is a good idea to by a latex mattress. Especially since the ones I have tried are exchangeable.

Looking forward to some responses

Sting
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