Why am I being warned about potential exposure to chemicals from furniture products?
- Some furniture products may expose you to chemicals that are on the Proposition 65 list. These chemicals can cause cancer and/or birth defects or other reproductive harm.
- Proposition 65 requires businesses to determine if they must provide a warning about significant exposure to listed chemicals.
Some chemicals on the Proposition 65 list can be present on furniture product surfaces and/or be released into the air, and accumulate in dust.
FURNITURE
PRODUCTS
- Not all furniture products are made with chemicals on the Proposition 65 list.
- Some furniture products made with Proposition 65-listed chemicals may not carry a Proposition 65 warning because they may not cause exposures high enough to require one.
- Furniture products that have Proposition 65 warnings may expose you to higher levels of listed chemicals than those without warnings.
Furniture products may be made with Proposition 65-listed chemicals, including:
- Flame retardants and related chemicals added to some polyurethane foams, textiles used in upholstered furniture, mattresses and certain children’s products before 2020 when California banned such use. Flame retardants and related chemicals may also be added to plastics. These include:
- Antimony trioxide, chlorinated tris (also known as TDCPP or TDCIPP), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), and pentabromodiphenyl ether (PentaBDE) mixture [DE-71 (technical grade)].
- Formaldehyde released from some composite wood (for example, particleboard and plywood) and coatings (for example, paints and lacquers).
- Phthalates, a group of chemicals added to many plastics to make them flexible. Phthalates may be used in plastic furniture and vinyl textiles on cushions and other upholstery.
- PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), used in some older upholstered furniture products to make them stain-resistant.
How does exposure to Proposition 65-listed chemicals from furniture products occur?
Image
- During pregnancy, some Proposition 65-listed chemicals list from furniture products can pass from mother to baby.
How can I reduce my exposure to Proposition 65-listed chemicals from furniture products?
When choosing furniture products, look for items:
- Made with materials that are not treated with flame retardants. Note that polyurethane foam is especially likely to contain flame retardants.
- Made with solid wood, stainless steel, or formaldehyde-free composite wood.
- That do not have polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials, which may contain phthalates.
Certain labels on furniture products can help you minimize your exposure to flame retardants and formaldehyde:
- For upholstered products:
- Look for the TB 117-2013 label required by California law. If the label says “contain[s] NO added flame retardant chemicals,” the product does not contain significant levels of flame retardants.
- If you do not see a TB 117-2013 label, ask if flame retardants have been added to the product.
- Also look for the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission label that states “Complies with U.S. CPSC requirements for upholstered furniture flammability.” This indicates compliance with California’s existing TB117-2013 flammability requirements.
- Look for furniture products with low formaldehyde gas emission labels with the following language:
- TSCA Title VI Compliant and California Air Resources Board (CARB) Phase 2 Compliant.
- No-added formaldehyde (NAF).
- Ultra-low-emitting formaldehyde (ULEF).
Other ways to protect yourself:
- Air out new furniture products made from composite wood that may release formaldehyde, where possible. At first, leave them in a well-ventilated area to allow any formaldehyde to dissipate.
- Maintain low humidity and temperatures indoors. More formaldehyde is released in hot and damp environments.
- Replace or reupholster furniture products that have exposed or crumbling foam.
- Minimize your exposure to dust, which can contain Proposition 65-listed chemicals.
- Wash your hands and your child’s hands frequently, especially before preparing food and before eating.
- Clean your floors regularly, using a wet mop or a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, if possible.
- Dust regularly, using a damp cloth
For more information:
General Fact Sheets and Resources
- California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA)
California Air Resources Board (CARB) - Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)
- California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)
- US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Scientific Information on Chemicals in Furniture Products
- California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA)
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) - Biomonitoring California
- World Health Organization (WHO)
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)- IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, vol. 100 F (2012). “Formaldehyde” in Chemical Agents and Related Occupations, pages 401-435.
Proposition 65
- California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA)
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)- Proposition 65: Background
- Proposition 65: The List of Chemicals
- Proposition 65: Fact Sheets
