Boric Acid
The fire barriers in most of L.A. Baby's Mattresses are made of cotton which
has been treated with Boric Acid. Boric acid is made of the Elements Boron,
Hydrogen, and Oxygen (H3BO3.). Boron is an essential
micronutrient that is found in all foods, especially those of plant origin. The
Average person consumes about one to three milligrams of Boron per day in a
healthy diet. Boron occurs naturally in air, water, and soil but does not exist
by itself in element form. Boron is combined with other common elements, such
as sodium to make salts like borax and oxygen to make boric acid.
Boric acid is a white, odorless and nearly tasteless. Its granular form looks
like fine table salt and in powdered form looks like baby powder.
Uses of Boric Acid
Boric Acid has been in use for many centuries, and its safety can be attested to by its increased usage in various industries. You can find boric acid in foods, and in many products around you. Boric acid is a mild antiseptic and can be found in eye drops, contact lens cleaning solutions, and other formulas for external use. Its acidic properties inhibit the growth of bacteria. Since Boron is an essential trace nutrient that we need to consume, most multi-vitamin and mineral supplements contain trace amounts of Boron in the form of Boric Acid. It is believed that borates contribute to bone and joint health.
Fire Retardant Properties of Boric Acid
By turning into a char when exposed to extreme heat, boric acid inhibits the release of combustible gases from burning cellulosic materials such as cotton, wood or paper, the char also forms an insulating layer that protects the underlying layers from further heat exposure and flame. Boric acid also releases chemically bound water which further slows the burning of the material. Boric acid as a fire retardant is very common in mattresses, futons, upholstered insulation and gypsum board (dry wall).
What about Exposure?
The way a mattress is built, the cotton that has been treated with boric acid is underneath the outer cover, not on the surface of the mattress. A person eats more boric acid in one day through their diet than what a baby would be exposed to in the lifetime of the mattress. Due to the way that baby and adult bodies process boric acid, there is no accumulation of it in the body tissues. The U.S. diet provides about 3 mg of Boron per day (most of it as Boric Acid), the maximum dosage by FDA is 14 mg, sleeping on a mattress will only expose a person to 0.014 mg (1/1,000th of the daily maximum).
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Contact Us
L.A. Baby Juvenile Products
L.A. Baby by fax: (626) 336-0488
Email: juan@lababyco.com
Write to us: 16039 Loukelton Street, City of Industry, CA 91744
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