The cheapest way for furniture makers do that is by using chemicals, many of which have been linked to cancer, reproductive problems and other health concerns, but are not banned. From there, you or your children may be exposed by breathing them in or putting something in your mouth—fingers, a toy—that has been in contact with the chemical-coated dust particles. Several studies have found harmful flame retardants in nearly every couch test. So they’re often easy to spot, she says. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our. “And as furniture gets older and materials break down, that could increase the transfer of these chemicals into the environment.”. An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. Air Fresheners/Scented Products. There may be information in a checked-box section stating that the item does not contain flame-retardants. Cancer is just one of many health concerns linked to the chemical treatments used in furniture. Devra Lee Davis is director of the Center for Environmental Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. The National Cancer Institute states that research links formaldehyde exposure to several cancers, including nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia. That law, called technical bulletin 117, or “TB117”, required furniture manufacturers to treat their products with flame retardant chemicals, mainly to protect against fires started by neglected cigarettes. In the article, "Twelve Highly Toxic Chemicals to Banish from Your Home," Natural News reports on chemicals commonly found around the house that could cause health problems. “Consumers love these [stain-repellant] treatments, but we’re concerned,” adds Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. “Several studies suggest associations between exposure to some flame retardants and poorer neurodevelopment in children,” he says. I believe this is due to the Proposition 65 in California, make many many household products have this warning label, I heard even funiture have this labels. Upholstered furniture is heavily sprayed with chemicals which are known carcinogens to make them flame retardant. Bradman says it’s difficult to pinpoint the precise toxicological and dose-response effects of these chemicals. Numerous studies have shown that flame retardants embedded … By signing up you are agreeing to our, What to Know About Other Impeached Presidents, Why Pelosi Can't Take the Nuclear Codes Away from Trump, A New Study Suggests Tainted Talcum Powder Can Cause a Rare Cancer. 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. As awareness of these chemicals dangers grows, it should become easier to find safe furniture pieces. Though beautiful, this home may be a hazard zone. Keep reading for 10 of the most common household items that contain cancer causing chemicals. But as of today, it’s very difficult to keep all these chemicals out of your home and your body. Ask a public health scientist about couches and cancer, and you’re sure to hear about a State of California law enacted back in 1975. That doesn’t mean newer couches can’t contain flame-retardants. The EPA is concerned that certain PBDEs may be toxic to both the environment and humans. The main effects of extended long-term exposure to chlorine gas include diseases of the lung and tooth corrosion. Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are used in stain-resistant fabrics often included in furniture as well as in non-stick cookware like Teflon. “It’s scary and it’s tough, because there are no simple ways to avoid these things,” Stapleton says. In short, the FDA is reviewing all of the available safety and effectiveness data in order to evaluate triclosan. Forty-one percent of the couches contained chlorinated Tris (TDCPP), a cancer-causing flame retardant removed from baby pajamas in the 1970s, and 17 percent contained the worldwide-banned chemical pentaBDE, the Duke University and University of California, Berkeley, researchers said. Dental Hygiene Month is almost over, but we’re back with tips for keeping your mouth healthy at home. Bags of potato chips are seen on a grocery store shelf on September 30, 2002 in Chicago, Illinois. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Landing the Big Fish of Body Health, Itchy Heads: It's National Head Lice Prevention Month, Gaming with Friends Can Combat Loneliness, That Rush You Get Hearing a Favorite Tune Is Real, Love Social Media? Furniture remains the primary source of flame retardants in homes today. To avoid flame-retardants, check out a furniture piece’s label or tags. This particular chemical is on California’s Proposition 65 list of chemicals known to cause cancer. “The data we have argues for a strategy that reduces exposures,” Bradman says. (The European Union has estimated the health care costs of these chemicals range into the hundreds of billions.) Materials like asbestos fibers can move through the air and into the lungs in the form of tiny particles, causing long-term damage to human tissues. “Exposure to PBDEs in the womb and through nursing has caused thyroid effects and neurobehavioral alterations in newborn animals, but not birth defects. Bradman says these flame-retardants work their way out of your furniture and into the dust that coats your floors and other surfaces. The more consumers ask questions and demand chemical-free couches, the safer these products will become, Birnbaum says. There are hormone-disrupting agents in your deodorant and your food and your clothing. Toxic chemicals, including at least one known to cause cancer, often hide in furniture, nonstick cookware, and even toys, according to a recent … It is Wood dust is one of the oldest occupational exposures known to man, and it's still very important to today for those who have jobs ranging from cabinetry to mill workers. Researchers found traces of toxins in the blood or urine of children living in homes with sofas containing flame-retardant chemicals or vinyl floors. Since then, many more chemicals have been identiied as known or suspected causes of cancer. A recent meta-study published by the American Cancer Society suggests that over 200 chemicals found in everyday products cause breast cancer in animals. Videos are often thought of as being a waste of time, but there may be some benefits to online gaming, such as social connections to combat loneliness. Short-term exposure, the EPA states, can cause dizziness and unconsciousness; long-term exposure can cause liver and kidney damage, memory loss, confusion, and even cancer. Chlorine is used to bleach wood pulp and remove mold. Acetaldehyde is a chemical used in the production of perfumes (think “new-car” or “new-furniture” smell), polyester resins, dyes, rubber production, and in tanning agent production. An English physician noted that a large number of chimney sweeps had cancer of the scrotum due to exposure to soot, which contains chemicals known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. “We don’t have adequate studies on the human health effects, but from animal studies we know some of these chemicals may have immunosuppressant and immunotoxic effects, and are also linked to cancer and developmental effects.”. But in older couches, flame retardants are “pretty much always present,” Bradman says. She and others say there is ample animal and lab research to suggest these chemicals may promote a number of health concerns, including cancer. The hormone disruptors are in house dust and in the air and include chemicals in plastics and detergents. Cancer is a complex group of diseases with many possible causes. Finally, chlorine and ammonia, perhaps the most commonly used chemicals in homes across the nation, end the list provided by Natural News. The chemicals in our environments, while sometimes useful, can also hurt us. But the average American is exposed to hundreds of chemical compounds on a daily basis. Flame Retardants. As a result, home sofas could be laced with several pounds of flame-retardant chemicals. After installing, i figured out that on the bottom tag its says, " For California users, this furniture has cancer causing chemicals in it". Unfortunately, flame-retardants aren’t the only health concerns lurking in your sofa. Do you know how to prevent head lice infestations? * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. Exposure to high levels of ammonia in air may be irritating to your skin, eyes, throat, and lungs, and cause coughing and burns. Perchloroethylene (PCE) is most commonly used in the dry cleaning process, yet textile mills — makers of rubber coatings — also use this chemical. Once these chemicals enter the bloodstream, they can alter hormone levels and cause other health problems. Before buying any wood products or furniture for your home, find out if they contain formaldehyde. So, too, are stain and water-repelling treatments. PCE has been banned in Canada and Europe. People can avoid some cancer-causing exposures, such as tobacco smoke and the sun’s rays. Scientists have made progress in understanding … You knew this but science wants to confirm it: Listening to favorite music could release that pleasure-loving, possible chill-creating hormone called dopamine. This is probably the number one product that everyone has in their home in one form or another. Proposition 65 requires businesses to determine if they must provide a warning about exposures to listed chemicals. Studies have linked exposure before birth to lower birth weight in both animal and human studies. There’s nothing fishy about the benefits of omega-3s. Thanks to greater public awareness, and research showing couches don’t need to be infused with flame-retardants to be safe, “these chemicals are under control now in new furniture,” Blum says. Years of research suggest that vision, lung function, immune system performance, and even sperm count can all be improved by omega-3s. Cases of lung cancer … Manufacturers or sellers should also be able to provide that info, she says. Recently, i bought 2 parson chairs from Walmart. Here's How That Could Play Out in the Courtroom, Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know now on politics, health and more, © 2021 TIME USA, LLC. But free-floating, harmful chemicals are also emitted from the furniture, wallpaper, flooring, and household items around us. . In this section you can learn more about the known causes of cancer, including genetic factors; lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, diet, and physical activity; certain types of infections; and environmental exposures to different types of chemicals and radiation. The brand name was Better Homes. Because industrial chemical use is minimally regulated, a lab at Duke University is offering free analyses of furniture for potentially hazardous compounds. Did you know that a heart attack isn't the same thing as a cardiac arrest? Has the Real Power of Solar Energy Arrived? Please try again later. California’s Proposition 65, also called the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, first became law in the state in 1986. They may also cause damage to the liver, kidney, and central nervous system. Inside 120 Cape Cod homes, scientists find more than 60 chemicals that interfere with hormones and may be linked to behavioral problems, obesity, diabetes, and cancer. According to a 1986 report, 99% of the chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum, including benzene derivatives, aldehydes and other known toxic ingredients capable of causing cancer. But most manufacturers have phased out these chemicals, says Arlene Blum, executive director of the Green Science Policy Institute. Any household item that contains some type of fragrance or “parfum” has a toxic chemical called phthalates. Or what to do if you find the critters? “These chemicals, particularly fluorinated compounds, never break down in the environment—never—and they’ve been linked with liver and kidney cancer, and reproductive and developmental problems,” Blum explains. , azodyes have been restricted in textile and leather articles that come into contact with the skin your health! 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