Are flame retardants really that bad?

Flame Retardants have been shown to cause neurological damage, hormone disruption, and cancer. One of the biggest dangers of some flame retardants is that they bioaccumulate in humans, causing long-term chronic health problems as bodies contain higher and higher levels of these toxic chemicals.

What does flame retardant do to your body?

Studies in laboratory animals and humans have linked the most scrutinized flame retardants, called polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, to thyroid disruption, memory and learning problems, delayed mental and physical development, lower IQ, advanced puberty and reduced fertility.

Why would flame retardants be a good thing to have on your furniture?

Under the new law, furniture need not be able to withstand an open flame—because a majority of home fires do not start from raw, open flames—but it does need to guard against a smoldering object like a dropped cigarette. This eliminated a good deal of the need for flame retardant chemicals.

Are brominated flame retardants dangerous?

Brominated flame retardants, which have received the most scrutiny, can build up in tissue, cause cancer, disrupt hormones, harm the reproductive system and cause neurodevelopmental problems, at least in animals and perhaps humans too.

Where are flame retardants banned?

In New England, Maine and New Hampshire generically banned flamed retardant chemicals in selected consumer products and defined as those chemicals that “resist or inhibit the spread of fire,” but it is unclear whether these bans include synergists, such as antimony trioxide.

How do you remove flame retardant from furniture?

Researchers believe flame-retardant chemicals come out of our furniture in the form of dust. They recommend frequent cleaning to capture that dust, especially dusting with a damp cloth, and vacuuming with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter, which captures dust. Wash your hands.

Should I worry about flame retardants?

Data suggests that exposures to other organophosphate flame retardants could affect thyroid hormone regulation and male fertility. Toxicology studies also suggest these compounds may be related to obesity and may affect children’s brain development.

Does Ashley furniture use flame retardants?

As of January 1, 2015, Ashley no longer uses flame retardant chemicals. In addition, all their upholstered furniture made after this date includes a label that complies with the requirements of California’s SB-1019 (meaning it will specify that it does not include flame-retardant chemicals).

Do leather couches have flame retardants?

As said above, leather sofas tend not to contain flame retardants in the covers, and it’s in cover treatments that you find the most toxic variety – brominated flame retardants. Also, as we’ve seen, these wear off easily. The fillings in leather sofas almost always contain flame retardants.

What is the difference between flame resistant and flame retardant?

Flame resistant fabrics are made from materials that are inherently nonflammable – the materials have flame resistance built into their chemical structures. Flame retardant fabrics are chemically treated to be slow burning or self-extinguishing when exposed to an open flame.

Is PBDE banned in UK?

Production of PBDEs ceased in the UK in 1996.

What products have flame retardants?

Flame Retardant Chemicals are found in a wide variety of products:

• Upholstered Furniture.
• Electronics.
• Baby Products.
• Building Insulation.
• Carpet Padding.
• Vehicles.

Are flame retardants harmful to human health?

There is growing evidence that many flame retardant chemicals can affect the endocrine, immune, reproductive, and nervous systems. Some animal studies have shown that long-term exposure to flame retardants can lead to cancer. Researchers are also beginning to look at the potential association between flame retardants and other health

Are flame-retardant chemicals safe in furniture?

The good news is that newer laws have helped limit the use of flame-retardants in furniture. California updated TB117 in 2013 and again in 2014; the new regulations make it less likely that flame-retardant chemicals will be added to the filling materials of sofas and other household furniture items, Stapleton says.

Why is fire retardant foam bad for your health?

The chemicals’ molecules migrate out of furniture foam and collect in our household dust, where they end up on our hands and from there, get into our mouths and bodies. Studies have linked different flame-retardant chemicals to health problems including cancer, reduced fertility, preterm birth, and problems with children’s brain development.

Are flame retardants in your upholstery making you sick?

Over the last few years, there’s been a lot of (mostly bad) press about the flame retardants that are found in the upholstered items in our homes. Things like couches, loveseats, chairs, ottomans, and even bedding and electronics. This bad press is pointing to the ability for these chemicals to make us sick.