Playing on Poisons Harmful Flame Retardants in Children’s Furniture
Author:
Caroline Cox and Judy Levin
Date Published:
11/2013
Description:
In July and August of this year, the Center for Environmental Health (CEH, with offices in New York and
California) and organizations from 11 other states and Toronto, Canada, purchased a total of 42 children’s
sofas, chairs, and other furniture products, many branded with characters from Disney, Marvel Comics,
Sesame Street, and Nickelodeon. Products were purchased from Walmart, Target, Kmart, Babies “R” Us and Toys “R” Us, buybuy Baby, and other retailers.
CEH commissioned a Duke University researcher who is a leading national expert on testing products for
flame retardant chemicals to conduct this testing. The testing found that all but four products (90% of the
products) contain flame retardant chemicals that have been linked to serious health problems.
The flame retardant chemical that was found in the most products (22 of the 42 products) has recently
been linked to harmful impacts on our bodies’ natural hormones. Other chemicals found in the products
include a flame retardant known to cause cancer and chemicals linked to infertility, genetic damage, and
developmental health problems. Children are more highly exposed to flame retardants and are more
vulnerable to these health hazards than adults.
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