Fire Retardants in Sleeping Pillows, Comforters and Quilts?

July 23, 2013 by Debra Lynn Dadd

Question from Natalie

Hi Debra, 

Do pillows, comforters and quilts also have fire retardants in them? I used to think only matresses and mattress pad need to have these flammability requirements. But what is the real life scenario, is it a common practice in USA that bedclothes are also FR treated? Thanks a lot for your help. 

Debra's Answer

There are definitely toxic fire retardants in sleeping pillows. In one study, a portable x-ray analyzer found sleeping pillows and vehicle seat cushions at the top of the list for key sources of flame retardants (see Environmental Health News: Pillow, vehicle seats key sources of flame retardants). This doesn't mean all sleeping pillows contain flame retardants, but a polyurethane foam pillow certainly would because polyurethane foam is extremely flammable. Natural fiber pillows generally do not have chemical flame retardants. The study found a wide variation of PBDE flame retardants in pillows made of different materials:

* pillows made of polyurethane foam (3,646 parts per million) 
* pillows made of polyester fibers (107 parts per million) 
* pillows made of feathers (6 parts per million).

As for comforters and quilts, these aren't generally made from flammable materials and haven't been found to be the source of fires like sleepwear and mattresses. I was unable to find a regulation about them. Still, one should always ask about flame retardants and choose natural materials over synthetics if you want to avoid toxic flame retardants.