Victory! California Requires Flame Retardant Labeling for Furniture

California Governor Jerry Brown does it again! After Gov. Brown pushed through the slam-dunk ban on single use plastic bags earlier this week, and now he has pushed through legislation that requires furniture retailers to label upholstery that contains toxic flame retardant chemicals. Brown faced a number of lawsuits and a lot of opposition from pro-chemical lobbyists; however, he put his foot down in favor of California residents and the environment in making this decision.

Flame retardants such as polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDC) have been used in everything from curtains to children’s pajamas, and they have been linked to cancer and pose a variety of environmental concerns. The chemicals in flame retardants are bioaccumulative, which means they can be stored in body tissue and collectively become more toxic overtime. Brown’s decision was partially influenced by the pleas of fire fighters who have suffered from unusual cancers linked to their exposure to flame retardants. In addition, Brown read an investigative series from The Chicago Tribune that illustrated the ruthless lobbying tactics used by the companies who produce these chemicals.

According to an article published in Scientific American, the decision to put flame retardants in furniture was partially influenced by the tobacco industry in an effort to reduce the number of couch fires started by unextinguished cigarettes. So naturally, big-tobacco was really looking out for the health of their customers on this, rather than encouraging consumers to smoke less. They could not smoke more without the fear that they would fall asleep and set their house on fire, thanks to the shield of toxic chemicals sprayed on their furniture to prevent fires.

Solid logic. Well, incidentally, the chemicals used for flame retardants are not only toxic to humans, but to animals, as well. Flame retardants have a funny way of showing up in waterways and the body of the plants and animals that call these waterways home. A recent study showed that the majority of fish in the Great Lakes are contaminated with perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOs), another chemical that is found in flame retardant foam.

These chemicals are used in furniture across the United States, and many consumers are unaware that the chairs, sodas, and other upholstered items they purchase are riddled with toxins that have been shown to cause reproductive problems and even lower IQs in children. California is setting the stage for manufacturers, making them reveal their usage of flame retardants to consumers. An informed consumer will be much less willing to purchase a product that contains these chemicals, making the market for flame retardant-free products more valuable.

A big THANK YOU to Governor Brown for his action on this important issue! Here’s hoping many more governors follow suit.