Is Mattress Off-Gassing Harmful?

Off-gassing is new products releasing VOCs into the air. The Minnesota Department of Health says household furnishings like carpet, upholstered furniture and items made from composite wood tend to off-gas more VOCs when they are new, and the EPA says VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some with short- and long-term adverse health effects, and that many are consistently up to ten times higher indoors than outdoors.

Mattresses must meet federal fire rules. Under 16 CFR 1632, a mattress or mattress pad must pass a test of its ignition resistance when exposed to a lighted cigarette, and the federal open-flame rule under 16 CFR 1633 applies to mattress sets made, imported or renovated on or after July 1, 2007. CPSC compliance staff have said the agency did not test for every chemical that could be used as a flame retardant treatment.

To cut exposure from new items, the Minnesota Department of Health suggests looking for floor models that have been allowed to off-gas in the store.

Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.

The sources behind this answer

  • Government sourceThe Minnesota Department of Health says household furnishings like carpet, upholstered furniture or items made from composite wood tend to off-gas more VOCs when they are new. Minnesota Department of Health ↗
  • Government sourceThe Minnesota Department of Health advises that when buying new items, look for floor models that have been allowed to off-gas in the store. Minnesota Department of Health ↗
  • Government sourceThe EPA says VOCs include chemicals some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects, and that many VOCs are consistently up to ten times higher indoors than outdoors. US EPA ↗
  • Regulatory filingUnder 16 CFR 1632, the federal standard prescribes a test of the ignition resistance of a mattress or mattress pad exposed to a lighted cigarette. US CPSC, 16 CFR part 1632 (eCFR) ↗
  • Regulatory filingThe CPSC's mattress flammability rule under 16 CFR 1633 became effective July 1, 2007 and applies to mattress sets manufactured, imported or renovated on or after that date. US CPSC, Federal Register, via GovInfo ↗
  • Government sourceCPSC compliance staff said the agency did not test for every chemical that could be used as a flame retardant treatment in mattresses. US Consumer Product Safety Commission ↗

Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.

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