Toxic flame retardants in people’s bodies drop after replacing old furniture with healthier options

New study shows public health benefit of policies that restrict toxic chemicals in products.

A new study shows that swapping out foam-containing furniture made before 2014 can reduce levels of certain harmful flame retardants in people’s bodies by half in just over a year. Published in the journal Environmental Pollution, the research is the first to demonstrate measurable health benefits from California’s 2014 update to its furniture standard, which made it possible for manufacturers to make furniture free of flame retardants without compromising fire safety.

The findings build on earlier research led by Silent Spring Institute that showed replacing older furniture with flame retardant-free options significantly reduced flame retardant levels in household dust. Replacing the foam inside the couch cushions was also found to be just as effective.

Participants in the new study who didn’t replace their couch also saw declines in flame-retardant levels, likely because these chemicals are being phased out of other products. However, levels in the intervention group dropped two to four times faster.

“This new study confirms that policies aimed at protecting the public from harmful exposures are effective,” says co-author Dr. Robin Dodson, a research scientist at Silent Spring. “When you remove a major source of toxic chemicals in the home, you remove a significant health risk.”

Flame retardants can migrate out of furniture and accumulate in indoor air and dust, ultimately entering people’s bodies. Exposure to these chemicals has been linked to cancer, thyroid disease, decreased fertility, lower IQ, and other harmful health effects. Infants and young children are particularly vulnerable since they spend more time on the floor, where contaminated dust settles, and frequently put their hands in their mouths.

The study team was led by the California Department of Public Health and included scientists from the California Environmental Protection Agency; University of California, Davis; Silent Spring Institute; Green Science Policy Institute; Environmental Working Group; and Sequoia Foundation.

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