“Is it true that latex pillows contain carcinogens?”
The backstage received a private message from a fan asking, latex pillows are the current Internet celebrity bedding, and the price is not cheap, before the epidemic began , and a large number of people go to Thailand to buy latex pillows exclusively. Many businesses will also boast that latex pillows can cure cervical spondylosis and health care, but many people who buy latex pillows turn black. Are latex pillows a sleep artifact or a deceiving IQ tax?
I. Are the latex pillows made by merchants really natural?
We often see advertisements for natural latex pillows, but are they really natural? According to the report of the China Consumers Association, there is no 100% pure latex pillow, because the latex pillow needs to add a total of 9% to 16% of additives, such as accelerators, antioxidants, during molding , vulcanizing agent, etc. These additives are relatively stable in nature and generally do not volatilize, so they are harmless to the human body.
As far as the current production process of latex pillows is concerned, the maximum purity can only be 95%. In the latex pillow industry, natural latex pillows with a content of more than 88% natural latex are usually regarded as natural latex pillows by default.
Many people buy latex pillows because they think it is good for cervical spondylosis. In this regard, Du Xinru, chief physician of the Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University explained that the pillow is good Cervical spondylosis and cervical spondylosis have no direct impact, let alone a therapeutic effect. Because the hardness and height of the pillow need to be adjusted according to the condition of the patient with cervical spondylosis, it is not something that can be solved by simply purchasing a pillow.
Second, here comes the question: Does latex pillow contain harmful substances and cause cancer? real or fake?
Some unscrupulous merchants will add styrene-butadiene rubber to latex pillows. Styrene-butadiene rubber is mainly used to make tires. It smells of styrene and is heated by heat. Benzene is then volatilized, and the International Health Organization classifies it as a carcinogen. Benzene is very harmful to human health, especially for women, because the fat content in women’s body is relatively high, and after absorbing benzene, it is more likely to be stored in fat and harm the body.
However, not all latex pillows contain carcinogens. You can judge qualified latex pillows by the following methods:
1. Take a look, too white Do not buy
Generally speaking, the color difference of latex pillows is not obvious, it looks like there are no impurities and cracks, the normal color is matte beige or milky white strong>. If you find that the color is abnormally whitish when you buy a latex pillow, and it is still greasy and shiny, you should pay attention to the possible cause of the added colorant.
2. Press it once, don’t buy it if the rebound is slow
Qualified latex pillow has better elasticity, you can press it by hand, and then feel Look at the strength of the pillow when it rebounds and the speed at which it returns to its original state. Qualified latex pillows can recover quickly and rebound quickly, while latex pillows with poor elasticity recover slowly.
3. Smell, don’t buy if there is a pungent smell
You can pick up the latex pillow and smell the smell, if you smell irritating Sexual odor or obvious fragrance may be added with flavor or other additives, because qualified latex pillows smell like a light natural rubber odor.
4. Do not buy a good-quality latex pillow if you pinch it, it will break when you pinch it. There is a tendency to tear when the pillow is used, indicating that it is a product of poor quality.
Third, why some people who have used latex pillows do not recommend others to use them?
Latex pillows do have some advantages, such as the honeycomb structure that can quickly dissipate the heat generated by the human body; and good air permeability and moisture absorption; latex pillows are ergonomically designed Yes, it can improve the effect and quality of sleep. However, some people who have used latex pillows do not recommend others to use them. This is mainly related to several shortcomings of latex pillows:
1. The appearance is flawed
< p>The latex pillow made of natural latex itself has certain defects, because the latex generally has defects such as air holes, cracks, wrinkles and so on after foaming. Those latex pillows that look flawless are actually non-natural latex pillows.
2. Discoloration
The color of the latex pillow will change after a period of use, from the milky white at the beginning to gradually yellowing, which is Because compared with non-natural latex, natural latex has less antioxidant substances.
3. The market is mixed.
Natural rubber is relatively precious. A rubber tree can only flow out 30ml of latex juice a day. Under normal circumstances, it produces 30 pieces of latex juice. Natural latex pillows need to consume the latex juice produced by 200 rubber trees a day. According to this production volume, Thailand is the main producer of latex pillows. It can only produce about 200,000 natural latex pillows per month. However, the turnover of latex pillows in the market is as high as 1 million. In order to meet the needs of the market Demand, some manufacturers will add other low-cost synthetic latex. Therefore, the quality of latex pillows sold in the market is uneven.
Fourth, pillows are not for pillows, any pillow is good for comparison!
Many people think that pillows are used to rest the head. In fact, the real use of pillows is to maintain the natural physiological curvature of the cervical spine, so sleepingWhen you sleep, put your head and neck on the pillow, so that the head and neck can be supported by the pillow, so that the neck can maintain a normal neck curvature.
In addition, choosing the correct pillow height is also a very critical step. Generally speaking, the normal pillow height is about 8~15cm, but the specific height needs to be adjusted according to the sleeping position of the individual. For example, people who are used to sleeping on their backs should choose a pillow with a height of 8~13cm, and a pillow can be placed under the knees to relieve the pressure on the spine; if you are usually used to sleep on your side >, you can choose a pillow with a height of 13-16cm.
Although latex pillows do have some advantages, but due to the mixed market of latex pillows, you must keep your eyes open when buying latex pillows, and don’t be too If you are tangled, you must use a latex pillow, and the one that suits you is the best.
References:
[1]”Have you chosen the right pillow for sleeping every night? You must know about latex pillows! “. China Consumers Association. 2019-12-11
[2]” Are latex pillows really good for health? Take a look at the top 5 myths that bust latex pillows! “. China Family News. 2019-03-20
[3] “Two pressures, three pinches, four hearings, experts’ tips to identify the pros and cons of latex pillows”. Science and Technology Daily. 2021-04-06< /p>