Read about the nine toxic chemicals commonly found on or built right into furniture. 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. Triclosan, frequently used in antibacterial soaps, is also used in making furniture and even toys. The hormone disruptors are in house dust and in the air and include chemicals in plastics and detergents. But as of today, it’s very difficult to keep all these chemicals out of your home and your body. But others are the result of environmental exposures that damage DNA. The good news is that newer laws have helped limit the use of flame-retardants in furniture. “Most manufacturers didn’t want to have two production lines—one for California and one for the rest of the country—so after the regulation was passed most furniture included flame retardants,” says Heather Stapleton, associate professor and program chair of environmental health at Duke University. It is classified as a “… probable human carcinogen based on inadequate human cancer studies and animal studies that have shown nasal tumors in rats and laryngeal tumors in hamsters.” Gosh ,I got so scared that i just put these chairs in my garage. “So vacuuming more and washing your hands can help.” She also recommends laying down blankets to keep your small children (and any toys they may put in their mouths) off the floor. Considering the number of jobs that could potentially involve wood dust exposure, the question about whether it could cause cancer is critical to investigate. PCE has been banned in Canada and Europe. Years of research suggest that vision, lung function, immune system performance, and even sperm count can all be improved by omega-3s. For instance, although they are most commonly found in air freshners, phthalates are also an ingredient in vinyl, wood varnishes, and lacquers. “Consumers love these [stain-repellant] treatments, but we’re concerned,” adds Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Toxic chemicals, including at least one known to cause cancer, often hide in furniture, nonstick cookware, and even toys, according to a recent … Finally, chlorine and ammonia, perhaps the most commonly used chemicals in homes across the nation, end the list provided by Natural News. For the past decade, Stapleton has conducted a series of studies identifying the types and concentrations of flame-retardants used in consumer products. Cancer is a complex group of diseases with many possible causes. And if it causes cancer in California why is it safe enough to be sold in Arizona? It’s your furniture! “And as furniture gets older and materials break down, that could increase the transfer of these chemicals into the environment.”. “Several studies suggest associations between exposure to some flame retardants and poorer neurodevelopment in children,” he says. Studies have linked exposure before birth to lower birth weight in both animal and human studies. Exposure to high levels of ammonia in air may be irritating to your skin, eyes, throat, and lungs, and cause coughing and burns. Cancer is just one of many health concerns linked to the chemical treatments used in furniture. Triclosan, frequently used in antibacterial soaps, is also used in making furniture and even toys. The chairs have foam and faux leather on them. Apple picking could be a good outing to take this fall, as it lends itself to social distancing. Some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans. 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? 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. “Later on it was found that these flame retardants could migrate out of the products and into people.”. Proposition 65 requires businesses to determine if they must provide a warning about exposures to listed chemicals. It is not known if PBDEs can cause birth defects in children,” the CDC reports. Air Fresheners/Scented Products. 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. Meanwhile, phthalate exposure is already widespread in the population. Bradman says it’s difficult to pinpoint the precise toxicological and dose-response effects of these chemicals. 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. In particular, several of the chemicals listed there may easily be inside or end up on your furniture where you (as well as your children, friends, and family members) are most likely to ingest them. 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. Dental Hygiene Month is almost over, but we’re back with tips for keeping your mouth healthy at home. 11 Furniture and cabinet making: ... a chemical at high levels that can cause cancer and found in paint production – mixed with other organic solvents. You knew this but science wants to confirm it: Listening to favorite music could release that pleasure-loving, possible chill-creating hormone called dopamine. Once these chemicals enter the bloodstream, they can alter hormone levels and cause other health problems. There’s nothing fishy about the benefits of omega-3s. Lung damage and death may occur after exposure to very high concentrations of ammonia. 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. “It’s scary and it’s tough, because there are no simple ways to avoid these things,” Stapleton says. Some anti-microbial treatments are also concerning, Blum says. Or that women can have different heart attack symptoms? Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) asserts that more research is needed to assess the human health effects of exposure to phthalates, some types of phthalates have affected the reproductive system of laboratory animals. Perchloroethylene (PCE) is most commonly used in the dry cleaning process, yet textile mills — makers of rubber coatings — also use this chemical. In short, the FDA is reviewing all of the available safety and effectiveness data in order to evaluate triclosan. “There are concerns about endocrine disruption and neurotoxic effects, especially for pregnant women and children,” says Asa Bradman, associate director of the Center for Environmental Research and Children’s Health at the University of California, Berkeley. . I was happy, until I go home put it together, on the bottom of the chair there a Cancer Warning: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer. Did you know that a heart attack isn't the same thing as a cardiac arrest? 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. The National Cancer Institute states that research links formaldehyde exposure to several cancers, including nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia. (The European Union has estimated the health care costs of these chemicals range into the hundreds of billions.) Also, clean your floors and home frequently. 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. As a result, home sofas could be laced with several pounds of flame-retardant chemicals. Cases of lung cancer … Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our. Some furniture is made with chemicals on the Proposition 65 list. These exposures may include substances, such as the chemicals in tobacco smoke, or radiation, such as ultraviolet rays from the sun. Chlorine is used to bleach wood pulp and remove mold. So, too, are stain and water-repelling treatments. The main effects of extended long-term exposure to chlorine gas include diseases of the lung and tooth corrosion. All Rights Reserved. An early link between cancer and a chemical was found in the late 1700s. * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. But the truth of the matter is that the chemicals used in this process are extremely dangerous, leading to cancer, disease and even death. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states on its website that “animal studies have shown that triclosan alters hormone regulation,” the agency also notes that such data does not always predict effects in humans. Please attempt to sign up again. Or what to do if you find the critters? But the average American is exposed to hundreds of chemical compounds on a daily basis. This slideshow shares some information you might find helpful. Furniture remains the primary source of flame retardants in homes today. 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. An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. In fact, they may be emitted by a wide array of products, including paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, household products such as varnishes and wax, cleaning and disinfecting, products, building materials (plywood and particleboard) and furnishings, office equipment such as copiers and printers, carbonless copy paper, graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives. 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. Since companies aren’t required to list those chemicals, you have no way of knowing what you’re putting on your skin. That doesn’t mean newer couches can’t contain flame-retardants. Unfortunately, flame-retardants aren’t the only health concerns lurking in your sofa. The study was carried out by an international panel of experts and was funded by a large number of foundations and government medical programs across the globe. Please try again later. This particular chemical is on California’s Proposition 65 list of chemicals known to cause cancer. Any household item that contains some type of fragrance or “parfum” has a toxic chemical called phthalates. Though beautiful, this home may be a hazard zone. After installing, i figured out that on the bottom tag its says, " For California users, this furniture has cancer causing chemicals in it". When it comes to stain-repellant and antimicrobial treatments, a lot of furniture sellers advertise those as perks or add-ons. Do you know how to prevent head lice infestations? The more consumers ask questions and demand chemical-free couches, the safer these products will become, Birnbaum says. These chemicals have been associated with serious health issues, including respiratory problems, neurological issues, skin irritation, and cancer. Since 2003, azodyes have been restricted in textile and leather articles that come into contact with the skin. Getty Images; Illustration by Marisa Gertz for TIME. Recently, i bought 2 parson chairs from Walmart. 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. All rights reserved. Keep reading for 10 of the most common household items that contain cancer causing chemicals. 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. A report in the Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives mentioned that phthalate exposure could be linked to increased breast cancer risk. “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. There may be information in a checked-box section stating that the item does not contain flame-retardants. Before buying any wood products or furniture for your home, find out if they contain formaldehyde. Because industrial chemical use is minimally regulated, a lab at Duke University is offering free analyses of furniture for potentially hazardous compounds. People can avoid some cancer-causing exposures, such as tobacco smoke and the sun’s rays. Medical Daily is for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment recommendation. Researchers found traces of toxins in the blood or urine of children living in homes with sofas containing flame-retardant chemicals or vinyl floors. She and others say there is ample animal and lab research to suggest these chemicals may promote a number of health concerns, including cancer. VOCs can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation as well as headaches, loss of coordination, and nausea. Twelve Highly Toxic Chemicals to Banish from Your Home, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states, Top 18 Best Weight Loss Pills For Women In 2020, 9 Amazing Facts About Protein Coffee and How It Can Change Your Life. Bradman says these flame-retardants work their way out of your furniture and into the dust that coats your floors and other surfaces. The use of flame retardants in furniture, baby products and other household items may sound like a good idea on the surface. 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. “These chemicals adhere to dust particles,” she says. “Exposure to PBDEs in the womb and through nursing has caused thyroid effects and neurobehavioral alterations in newborn animals, but not birth defects. Chemicals adhere to dust particles, ” the CDC reports adhesives, cancer causing chemicals in furniture, furniture polishes and. To dust particles, ” bradman says it ’ s rays Environmental Oncology at the University of cancer. Does not contain flame-retardants of questions before buying any wood products or furniture for hazardous. 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