People Allergic To Polyurethane Have Problems In Big Box Stores

Duluth, GA, United States (AHN) – People who are allergic to polyurethane might have an unpleasant experience if they shop at a big box store because many of the products there contain that substance.

Products that contain polyurethane include some things that consumers might not expect, such as memory foam mattresses and some pillows.

Allergic reactions to polyurethane can include itching eyes or skin, difficulty breathing, an irregular heartbeat and other symptoms. It isn’t just touching the product that causes problems because polyurethane exudes fumes into the air.

But staying out of the bedding section won’t prevent people allergic to polyurethane from being exposed to it.

Polyurethane is also found in foam seating, wheels and tires, adhesives and sealants, carpet underlay, footwear outsoles, simulated wood, paints and varnishes, tennis racket handles, watch band wrappings, and even surfboards, according to Bill Doyle, president and chief executive of Vystar Corporation.

Vystar makes products from natural rubber latex, which reduces allergens that people are exposed to, Doyle said.

But even an eco-friendly product can become an allergen if has a label or packaging that are coated in eco-unfriendly polyurethane, Doyle says.

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