Chemicals in furniture

2012 Study on Flame-Retardants in Couches

Out of 102 polyurethane foam samples obtained from new couches, the study found the chemicals chlorinated tris and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in some of them:

Chlorinated Tris or TDCPP

Tris is a flame retardant that is considered to be potentially neurotoxic. Tris is on a 2011 California list of Potential Carcinogens.

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION :

Cancer Risks higher than 1 per 100 million should Be regulated

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers or PentaBDE

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY:

PBDEs are not chemically bound to plastics, foam, fabrics, or other products in which they are used, making them more likely to leach out of these products

California and the European Union has banned PentaBDE since 2004. Chemical has been found to be neurotoxic -- according to the Environmental Protection Agency, PentaBDE has been linked to liver, thyroid and neurodevelopmental toxicity.

SOURCE: "Novel and High Volume Use Flame Retardants in US Couches Reflective of the 2005 PentaBDE Phase Out." Environmental Science & Technology. American Chemical Society. Dec 1, 2012.