We bought a cheap Chinese memory foam topper once from wal mart and I had to give it away. It had a strong chemical odor. The DW had several bad allergic reactions to it and told me in no uncertain terms it had to go or she was.
I recently bought a regular foam 3" mattress with cover from the Foam Factory
http://www.foambymail.com/ after a friend recommended it. No smell whatsoever and high quality dense foam. Pricier then the cheap ones but I was willing to spend a bit more on this after the first episode. As far as I can tell their stuff is all American made in their factory, and comes this certification;
CertiPUR-US Ū Program
Here at Foam Factory, Inc., we understand that your health and safety are the top priorities when faced with the decision to bring a new product into your home. In an effort to offer the highest-quality products to our customers while providing peace of mind, Foam Factory has earned CertiPUR-USŪ certification for nearly all of our open-cell comfort foams. Meeting the CertiPUR-USŪ guidelines assures customers that our certified polyurethane foam is an environmentally-innovative material that is durability, performance, and content-tested.
The CertiPUR-USŪ program is a not-for-profit testing and analysis guideline system that helps consumers make more informed buying decisions regarding foam products. Materials carrying the CertiPUR-USŪ seal have been independently laboratory-tested and certified to meet specific criteria for physical performance, indoor emissions, and environmental stewardship.
When manufactured to correct standards and protocol, foam products for use in and around the home provide unparalleled comfort, luxury, and relaxation. However, due to the practices of a few disreputable companies in our industry, many people have the idea that foam is a product filled with harmful chemicals and materials, and something best avoided. Fortunately, this is untrue for a great majority of foam materials.
CertiPUR-USŪ certified materials have to pass rigorous requirements to meet the standards of the evaluation. To achieve CertiPUR-USŪ certification, materials must meet the following requirements:
Made without Ozone depleters
Made without PBDE flame retardants
Made without mercury, lead, and other heavy metals
Made without formaldehyde
Made without prohibited Phthalate softening agents (pronounced thal'-āte)
Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions for indoor air quality (less than 0.5 parts per million)
Knowing that the materials you're bringing into your home are certified to be free of these additives can help you make your purchase decisions with confidence and let you rest easy once they are in your home.
Foam Factory CertiPUR-USŪ certified materials include:
3LB ViscoSAVER Memory Foam
4LB ViscoPLUSH Memory Foam
5LB ViscoMAX Memory Foam
Poly Foam
Super Soft Foam
Medical Foam
HD36-Regular Foam
HD36-High Quality Foam
Lux-Regular Foam
Lux-High Quality Foam
For more information on CertiPUR-USŪ certification, visit
www.certipur.us.