SAN FRANCISCO – A study released by the Friends of the Earth says a high percentage of California furniture contains toxic chemicals that have been linked to cancer, birth defects, hormone disruption and reproductive and neurological dysfunction. For the study, Killer Couches, the group tested a sample of 350 pieces of household furniture in stores and domestic residences and found that most of the furniture had high levels of toxic halogenated fire retardants. The study suggests that production contamination is widespread in California.
Friends of the Earth is co-sponsoring a bill (AB706-Leno) that will mandate the phase-out of halogenated fire retardants in all residential furniture products, while also promoting the use of less toxic, and equally effective, fire retardant methods.
The full report can be found here.
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