Can a couch make you sick?
Well, if you're anything like us, you hope the answer is no, but you suspect that it could be yes.
We've tackled the question before and we came to the conclusion that, yes, a sofa could probably make your eyes dry. But what else? Does it get any worse than that? Unfortunately it looks like it does.
According to the Killer Couches Report (PDF) released yesterday by Friends of the Earth, "a high percentage of California furniture contains toxic chemicals that have been linked to cancer, birth defects, hormone disruption, and reproductive and neurological dysfunction."
The real culprits targeted in this report are halogenated fire retardants. Friends tested 350 pieces of furniture and found that two-thirds of the furniture in retail stores and over half the furniture in domestic residences contained these toxic chemicals, which are especially harmful to infants and children.
Wow. This is a downer. On the upside, if you live in California and would like to see halogenated fire retardants banned in furniture in favor of equally effective, less toxic methods, you can support AB706 by sending a letter to your state senators through a simple online form at the Friends of the Earth website.
image via joanie; sxc.hu
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The release of harmful gases from carpets, furniture, paints, and other products in our homes is a real health problem, especially for those with asthma or other respiratory problems. Hopefully, the California initiative will pass and other states will follow suit.
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