Polyurethane a safe material for dust-mite-proof bed protector?

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a_008@yahoo.com - 13 Jan 2005 17:36 GMT

Hi, I am looking for a bed protector to reduce or eliminate the dust
mites for my son. Most of them use polyurethane membrane as the
barrier. Is polyurethane a proven safe material for long term use? We
spend 1/3 of our time in the bed and I heard Polyurethane foam should
be avoided for allergy people.

Thanks

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Larry Farrell - 13 Jan 2005 17:56 GMT

> Hi, I am looking for a bed protector to reduce or eliminate the dust
> mites for my son. Most of them use polyurethane membrane as the
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Thanks

Since misc.health.aids is an HIV/AIDS newsgroup, you are not likely to
get any useful responses to your post from this group. It is possible
that the asthma or allergy groups will produce some information. It is
a good idea to determine the subject areas for newsgroups before posting
so you don't get hit too hard for posting off-topic material/questions.

Signature

Larry D. Farrell, Ph.D.
Professor of Microbiology
Idaho State University

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NorthShoreCEO@aol.com - 14 Jan 2005 02:20 GMT

Check out the products here and see if you can find something without
polyurethane in it. I also know they carry such products at stores
like Target, but don't know what they're made out of.

http://www.allergystore.com/mattressencasing.htm
http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/dusen2.html

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Danny at Chrastina dot net - 18 Jan 2005 09:55 GMT

> Hi, I am looking for a bed protector to reduce or eliminate the dust
> mites for my son. Most of them use polyurethane membrane as the
> barrier. Is polyurethane a proven safe material for long term use? We
> spend 1/3 of our time in the bed and I heard Polyurethane foam should
> be avoided for allergy people.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4181629.stm

"Something as simple as leaving a bed unmade during the day can remove
moisture from the sheets and mattress so the mites will dehydrate and
eventually die."

Signature

     Dr. Danny Chrastina.

Office: +39 031 3327612    Everywhere else: +39 333 2825623
                 http://www.chrastina.net/

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Merlin - 19 Jan 2005 11:11 GMT

Hi Everyone, the mention of leaving the bed unmade and the mites thus
dying from dehydration is really interesting, I was most interested in
that research report yesterday. It seems that the experiment is
ongoing.
I don't think it would work very well here in Brisbane though, because
the humidity is usually very high.
The best routine here seems to be to sun the bedclothes regularly and
vacuum clean the top of the mattress every couple of days.
A further assistive measure is by keeping the subject as cool as
sensibly possible and wearing of Tshirts as bedclothes.
This kind of routine appears very helpful.
Cheers, Merlin.

> > Hi, I am looking for a bed protector to reduce or eliminate the dust
> > mites for my son. Most of them use polyurethane membrane as the
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> "Something as simple as leaving a bed unmade during the day can remove
> moisture from the sheets and mattress so the mites will dehydrate and

> eventually die."
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Office: +39 031 3327612 Everywhere else: +39 333 2825623
> http://www.chrastina.net/

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NorthShoreCEO@aol.com - 19 Jan 2005 11:56 GMT

My upholstered furniture isn't made up, but I'm fairly certain a test
would find dust mites in that, too, so I don't really know what leaving
a bed unmade has to do with dust mites.

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a_008@yahoo.com - 19 Jan 2005 23:10 GMT

Any know if polyurethane a safe for long term use as bed protector? I
heard bad things about polyurethane form but not sure if the
polyurethane membrane is the same thing.

thanks

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Dr.Jung - 20 Jan 2005 22:18 GMT

>> Hi, I am looking for a bed protector to reduce or eliminate the dust
>> mites for my son. Most of them use polyurethane membrane as the
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> moisture from the sheets and mattress so the mites will dehydrate and
> eventually die."

The allergy against mites has nothing to do with the mites but with their
faeces.
So in many times the most effective way to get rid of the mites is to get
rid of the mattress,carpets and "dust catcher"such as curtains.
An alternative way is the use of chemicals such as
acarosane,phosmethyle,benzylbenzoate.
Investigations made clear that chemicals do not give an satisfying result.
hot washing of the carpets and curtains are also a common way.
Polyurthrane membranes prove safe.

peter

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Uncle Al - 21 Jan 2005 00:19 GMT

> >> Hi, I am looking for a bed protector to reduce or eliminate the dust
> >> mites for my son. Most of them use polyurethane membrane as the
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> hot washing of the carpets and curtains are also a common way.
> Polyurthrane membranes prove safe.

Nylar (pyriproxyfen) juvenile hormone takes out arthropods for up to
nine months/application. Fumigate the house and call it a done deal.

http://www.hclrss.demon.co.uk/pyriproxyfen.html
<http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/empm/pubs/fatememo/pyrprxfn.pdf>
<http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/insect-mite/propetamphos-zetacyperm/pyripro
xyfen/>

Signature

Uncle Al
http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/
(Toxic URL! Unsafe for children and most mammals)
http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/qz.pdf

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Dandelion77 - 22 Jan 2005 20:45 GMT

> Hi, I am looking for a bed protector to reduce or eliminate the dust
> mites for my son. Most of them use polyurethane membrane as the
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Thanks

Don't know much about polyurethane. But I got my dust mite cover at
Walmart, some sort of plastic like material (king size cover under $50). I
cover the dust mite cover with a sheet that I wash once a week in hot water
to kill the dust mites. I have read that high thread count covers do not
really work on dust mites because the cloth eventually loosens up and allows
the dust mites to go through.

Dandelion

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j r - 23 Jan 2005 15:30 GMT

Disclaimer for chemists: Analogy only. If you know the details of
chemistry involved, this response is not for you.

Polyurethane membrane (typically film) is very different than polyurethane
foam. To make the membrane, the material is fully polymerized (the small
parts are linked together into chains millions of links long). Then the
material is made into the membrane or film. very few unlinked ends are left.

Polyurethane foam has the 2 types of monomers (small parts) mixed together
with other chemicals that cause the bubbles. The parts link together during
the foaming and a lot of the links get "stuck" and can't move but didn't
find the other type to link up with. This leaves a larger number of
"reactive" ends hanging out. Some people develop sensitivity to the "ends"
so foam bothers them more than film. Also, the gas created in the bubbles
slowly leaks out over time. Some urethane foam can leak formaldehyde gas
which is irritating (at the least).

I am not a big fan of urethane foam for pillows or bedding. I do use
urethane barrier on my pillow.

Plastics Engineer, B.S. and M.S. Plastics Engineering

> Hi, I am looking for a bed protector to reduce or eliminate the dust
> mites for my son. Most of them use polyurethane membrane as the
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Thanks

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ARoberts - 23 Jan 2005 17:25 GMT

> Disclaimer for chemists: Analogy only. If you know the details of
> chemistry involved, this response is not for you.
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> Plastics Engineer, B.S. and M.S. Plastics Engineering

Great analogy--thanks.

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