Not everyone happy about new rules

BOISE - On July 1, all mattress stores and manufacturers across the nation will have to comply with a new government mandate that will make all mattresses flame retardant. 

This is now stirring up controversy with some manufacturers saying that the mattresses could poison the public, while others say that is not so.

"I think we might end up calling that national toxic day. The day we've crossed the line on poisoning our selves," said Mark Strobel, president of Strobel Manufacturing.

Strobel has been a mattress manufacturing business for more than 30 years.

He says that this new government mandate is putting millions of people at risk.

“A lot of doctors, a lot of M.D.'s say this regulation is absolutely horrible. There is almost no study that says it's safe and there's no scientific study that says it's safe," said Strobel.

Strobel says the chemicals being used to fire proof the mattresses are dangerous.

As of July 1, all mattresses manufactured in the U.S. must be made with fire retardant material.

"These chemicals being used to flame proof mattress, we already know are acutely toxic and cancer causing," said Strobel.

Patty Davis, spokesperson for the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, says the risk is insignificant.

"CPSC scientist and outside experts evaluated and tested the fire retardant chemicals that are currently used in mattress. And we found, and the outside scientist found, that there is an insignificant risk of health problems to consumers," said Davis.

Davis stressed that the CPSC does not require its manufacturers to use chemicals to flame proof their beds.

"There are many different ways that a manufacturer can meet that standard outside of flame retardant chemicals," said Davis.

Davis stressed the most important issue is that the new regulation will save lives.

Some local retailers agree.

"I think just to keep families safe and some people have accidents, some people got to sleep smoking in bed. This is just going to keep the whole house from being engulfed in flames," said Mike Allred, RC Willey.

"This will save as many as 270 lives and prevent more than 1,300 injuries currently occurring every year," said Davis.

However, Strobel doesn't think the risk is worth it.

"People are really discussed with that the government would do this. To jeopardize 300 million people to save such a small number," he said.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission said that there is one exception for one kind of mattress set for those who might have sensitivity to flame retardant, but a doctor must write a prescription for that kind of mattress.