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Toxic flame retardants are not only ineffective at preventing the most common types of fires, but they are linked to cancer, neurological disorders, impaired fertility and developmental problems.

Flame retardants are among more than 80,000 chemicals on the market that have not been adequately tested for health and safety. They have received increased scrutiny for their potential health impacts on firefighters, as well as on the general public.

Two victories in California last week will soon make families – and firefighters – across America healthier. Both involve toxic flame retardant chemicals deliberately put into our couches, chairs and other furniture items.

Consumers across the country will soon have option of buying furniture that is both less flammable and less toxic

A coalition of fire safety and health groups has intervened to support the recently updated California furniture flammability regulations, which have been challenged by the major chemical manufacturer Chemtura. Effective January 2014, the revised regulations provide stronger protections against the leading causes of furniture fires, and allow furniture manufacturers to reduce their reliance on harmful…

New standard better protects firefighters and consumers

Chemical flame retardants, which are present in a wide array of household products, have been linked to cancer and developmental, neurological and reproductive problems. And chances are, if you are sitting on a padded chair or couch, it contains these noxious chemicals.

Just sitting on a couch can accelerate the release of flame retardant chemicals, which are harmful to human health. And no one should think they are safe from these chemicals—a CDC test analyzing blood samples from 2003 and 2004, finding that 97 percent of Americans carry flame retardants in their blood.