The formaldehyde level of a "three-no" mattress reached 0.46 mg/m³, which was more than four times the standard limit. The room had an unusual smell, and Mr. Yuan, a local resident, suspected that the furniture might not be environmentally friendly. However, after testing, he found that the formaldehyde levels in the furniture were within the acceptable range. It turned out that the real culprit was a brown mattress with no manufacturer, address, or trademark. This mattress had a formaldehyde content over four times higher than the allowed standard.
**Owner:**
**Pre-decorated children's room for anti-pollution purposes**
Mr. Yuan is a civil servant who recently moved into a newly renovated 120-square-meter home on Liusha Road in Nanning. The house has three bedrooms and two living areas with medium-level decoration. Concerned about indoor air pollution, he participated in a free environmental testing event organized by the newspaper *Home Weekly*.
On April 22, a reporter and staff from the Guangxi Analysis and Testing Center visited Mr. Yuan’s home. The testing team, consisting of Pan Gong and Huang Gong, conducted tests in the living room, master bedroom, and elderly room. With doors and windows closed for an hour, they didn’t detect any strong odors. Mr. Yuan explained that the living room had floor-to-ceiling windows and good ventilation due to its north-south orientation. He was more concerned about the children’s room, which he had already decorated in advance.
When asked how old his children were, Mr. Yuan hesitated. It turned out he wasn't married yet, and only his parents lived with him. He had renovated the children’s room early because it was considered marriageable age, and he wanted to plan ahead for future family needs. “I bought the bed in advance to avoid pollution when using it,†he said.
**Encounter:**
**Free brown mattress with unknown origin**
During the test, the team collected air samples from all rooms and used a portable formaldehyde detector. The results showed that the living room, master bedroom, and elderly room had normal formaldehyde levels. However, the children’s room, which was small (about eight square meters) and contained a single upper and lower bed, had a strange smell.
Mr. Yuan thought the bed was made of solid wood, which he believed was eco-friendly. But he still felt a lingering odor in the room. After testing, the formaldehyde levels in the room were within the standard, and even when the probe was inserted into the bed’s drawer, there was no increase in the reading. Mr. Yuan felt relieved.
At this point, the reporter noticed that the upper and lower mattresses were brown and had no manufacturer information, production date, or trademark. Mr. Yuan mentioned that the mattress was a gift from the seller when he purchased the bed frame. Since it had never been used, the packaging film was still intact.
**Detection:**
**Formaldehyde levels in brown mattress exceed standard**
In previous cases, similar brown mattresses have often exceeded formaldehyde limits. The reporter suggested tearing open the packaging to test the mattress directly. As soon as the probe was placed between the mattress and the plastic film, the formaldehyde reading jumped from 0.02 mg/m³ to 0.46 mg/m³. Pan Gong shook his head and said, “This mattress can no longer be used.â€
After resetting the detector, the second mattress was tested, and the same result occurred. Both brown mattresses had formaldehyde levels over four times the standard—clearly a dangerous product.
“I didn’t expect the problem to be with the mattress,†Mr. Yuan said, surprised by the results. He immediately wanted to throw the “toxic†mattress away. He then asked the inspectors to check other mattresses in the house.
The master bedroom’s mattress was from Simmons, a well-known brand, and cost nearly 10,000 yuan. On-site testing showed that the formaldehyde levels were within the standard. Mr. Yuan sighed, “It really is true that cheap isn’t always better. I should have paid more attention to the gifts offered by the merchant.â€
**Analysis:**
**Poor glue use leads to serious issues**
On April 25, after laboratory analysis, the indoor air quality report for Mr. Yuan’s home was released. All four test points (living room, master bedroom, elderly room, and children’s room) met the required standards for formaldehyde, TVOC, benzene, and ammonia.
Despite the high formaldehyde levels in the brown mattress, the overall air quality was still within limits. According to Pan Gong from the Guangxi Analytical Testing and Research Center, most formaldehyde comes from wooden products and furniture, and it is slowly released. If the edge sealing is poor or low-quality glue is used, it can lead to excessive formaldehyde emissions. In recent years, many small manufacturers have been found using inferior urea-formaldehyde glue in palm mattresses, leading to severe pollution.
The two brown mattresses in Mr. Yuan’s home were fully wrapped in plastic during testing, which limited the release of formaldehyde. If they had been exposed to the air, the indoor air quality could have been significantly worse.
Professional advice: Mattresses are closely linked to health, so whether you're buying a brown, spring, or latex mattress, it's essential to choose a reputable brand that provides a test report and has a strong market reputation. Always check for proper labeling and certifications before making a purchase.
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