An un-reviewed guest blog posted on the Scientific American website in 2010 has caused some concern on the Internet that there may be a link between mattresses that contain innersprings and cancer caused from exposure to high EMFs (electric and magnetic fields).

But there is a crucial factual error in the post. According to Discover magazine's website: "[The blog post in Scientific American] gets the researchers’ explanation exactly backwards: it said that the springs acted as antennas and amplified radio waves, increasing the likelihood of cancer; the researchers actually said the springs attenuate radio waves and decrease incidence of cancer."

Even so, the story continues to propagate.

Since that time, there have also been a handful of videos on YouTube (such as this video and this video) that show a person holding an EMF meter (electromagnetic radiation detector) while measuring the results over a traditional innerspring mattress. The innersprings shown in these videos are continuous coil innersprings, which means the coils are interconnected with a tightly coiled wire called a helical. (Yes, helical wires are sometimes used in antennae.)

We do not use continuous coils (or open coils) or connecting helical wires between the coils in any Avocado Green Mattress. Instead, we use fabric-encased innersprings — which means every coil is individually wrapped in fabric so they function independently (our Latex Mattress does not use springs). They are not interconnected. (As reference, this video explains the different types of innersprings.) This is important, because if the coils are not connected, their ability to function as an antenna is greatly diminished.

Still concerned? Shop our all Latex Mattress, which doesn't contain springs.

EMFs and the Avocado Green Mattress

Although we are obviously not scientists, we tested our Avocado Green Mattress and posted our results, as the video from April 2017 demonstrates (below). Please note: we are not attempting to refute the connection between EMFs and health. Instead, we are simply demonstrating that there is no measurable EMF impact detected on our mattresses.

What is a safe level? The EPA recommends 2.5 milligauss (mG) or less. However, the Seletun panel in 2011 recommends a lower threshold of 1 mG or less.

"The misconception that coil mattresses promote cancer came from a 'Scientific American' blog post that interpreted the results of an already wildly speculative paper incorrectly."

Claim: Coiled mattresses cause cancer by amplifying radio waves.
​Rating: False.