The New Year is approaching—time for spring cleaning, "clearing out the old and welcoming the new," to bring a fresh atmosphere to your home. However, elderly family members might be particularly attached to old items, reluctant to throw away a sofa used for decades, filled with memories. But these worn-out pieces of furniture could become a hidden health hazard for the entire family, releasing toxic chemicals day after day, increasing cancer risk, and potentially even causing cognitive deficits in children.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) in the US points out that older sofas, chairs, and other furniture containing foam, in order to meet flammability standards, were treated with large amounts of toxic flame retardants. Over time, these chemicals slowly migrate from the sofa's seams and tears into the air, contaminating the entire home environment. Studies have confirmed that long-term exposure to these chemical-laden dusts is linked to a variety of serious health problems, including cancer, thyroid disease, neurological damage, and reduced fertility.
Even more concerning is the harm to young children. They crawl and play on the floor daily, then put their hands in their mouths, making them most susceptible to inhaling toxic dust. This exposure can impair their motor skills, concentration, and even affect IQ development.
According to a recent study conducted by the EWG and other organizations, when a family removed or replaced their old sofa, the levels of flame retardant chemicals in family members' blood decreased 2 to 4 times faster than in families that did not replace their sofas. They tested two classes of flame retardants commonly added to foam furniture like sofas and chairs: polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) . Notably, after removing furniture containing these flame retardants, PBDE levels in participants' blood dropped faster, but there was no significant effect on OPFR levels. Earlier studies also found that replacing old furniture reduced flame retardant levels in household dust.
Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety (CFS) states that PBDEs are man-made flame retardants commonly found in plastics, foam, and textiles. These chemicals are difficult to break down, accumulate in organisms and the environment for long periods, and are potentially toxic. Research shows PBDEs have negative effects on the brain, reproductive organs, neurodevelopment, and thyroid hormone levels in animals, and can also impair liver function. Humans primarily ingest PBDEs through inhaling contaminated indoor air and household dust, as well as through food (including breast milk). It is estimated that 82% of PBDEs in Americans' bodies come from household dust. Studies have found that PBDE levels in human blood, tissues, and breast milk are increasing rapidly.
For the long-term health of your family, especially the healthy growth of the next generation, the EWG recommends taking the following steps to reduce exposure to flame retardants:
