For this blog post I wanted to chose an article that would capture people’s attention, I also wanted it to be about a topic that we could all relate to. The article I decided to write about is called “The Most Toxic Thing in Your House?” by Emily Main. I found this article through a link on ABCNews.com http://www.rodale.com/flame-retardant-furniture . Emily published this article on November 15th 2012 with the intention of capturing readers’ attention, bringing awareness to what dangerous chemicals and bacteria may be inside their couches. We have focused a lot in class about different forms of bacteria. We even conducted an experiment throughout the high school to figure out which location in RMHS had the greatest amount of bacteria. Since we already did a lab and found out that bacterium and harmful chemicals can be found all around us I thought many people would find this article particularly interesting.
This article discussed the many dangers hidden deep beneath
your couch.“There’s nothing more relaxing than coming home after a long day
and flopping on the couch to unwind. That is, until you realize that your couch
and chemicals inside it are doing anything but help you de-stress-like even
causing cancer or reproductive problems.” Says author Emily Main.
Researchers from Duke University asked people all over the
United States to send them small samples of foam from their couches, along with
detailed information about where and when they purchased their couch.
After some research it is believed that 50 percent of
couches in America are likely to contain a chemical know to cause cancer. To
think that something we come in contact with on a daily basis can cause cancer
is simply freighting. Researchers from Duke University also concluded that
flame retardant furniture is both unhealthy and actually does not stop fires.
Nearly 97 percent of the newer couches analyzed contained flame retardants.
“There are pounds of these flame retardants in a typical
couch,” says researcher Dodson of Duke University. Couches gradually release
them in small amounts over time. As the foam breaks down, the chemicals puff
out, bind to dust, and settle on your floor or in your lungs.”
The author of this article later goes on to say that if you
bought your couch after 2005 there is a really good chance that it contains a
significant amount of chemicals in it. The most common chemical the researchers
came in contact with was called “Tris” or TDCPP. This chemical is known for causing cancer,
and it was found in a shocking 50 percent of the couches sampled.
You may be asking yourself, well if these chemicals are
supposedly so harmful why they in are coaches to begin with? The answer comes
down to a California state law, known as Technical Bulletin (TB) 117. This law
requires that polyurethane foam must be used in couches to resist and open
flame. But as the studies mentioned earlier show- by using this foam you are
doing much more harm than good. This
California state law actually tuned into a national law solely do to the fact
that manufactures didn’t want to make different pieces of furniture for different
states.
The good news however is that the law is getting a
long-overdue revamp. “ The California government is redrafting the TB 117 that
will require the upholstery fabric , not the foam, to be smolder resistant”
says the author Emily Main. The government
believes this fabric will be less harmful because an estimated 85 percent of
upholstery fabrics on the market already provide protection against flames
without the addition of chemicals.
It is never going to be possible to completely eliminate
these chemicals from you house but there are some things you can do to cut down
your expose. For example dusting and vacuuming, washing your hands, and
repairing rips in torn upholstery.
I found this article to be extremely interesting. I never
would have thought there could be so many hidden dangers within a couch. I think
it’s scary that these harmful toxins are found in such a commonly used item but
on the other hand I do think we need to take this information with a grain of
salt and not be too caught up about the what ifs. It’s important to be educated about these
issues, but when you’re lying on your
couch you should enjoy it. If you get too caught up thinking about what's hidden
beneath your couch you’ll never be able to relax! For more on this article check out this link. http://www.rodale.com/flame-retardant-furniture
Wow Alexandra, I was actually shocked when I read this article because my parents just bought a couch and living room set from Jordan’s Furniture three weeks ago. We moved our old couches to a room above the garage, where we got rid of even older couches that were from when my parents bought my house 17 years ago.
ReplyDeleteThis made me realize exactly how gross the deflated seat cushions were and how bad the chemicals in the new couch are. I wonder though, why it has taken California etc. so long to begin trying to reverse the law which made this possible?
This reminded me of our debate on whether or not the smallpox reserves should be kept or not because if the law stays the same we may have a threat of cancer-causing carcinogens in our couches and if we change the law, what will we do with all the recalled couches that are now deemed “unsafe” because of those carcinogens? Sometimes what is easiest isn’t what is the most moral, and preventative measures for not getting cancer are much more cost effective and better than treatment options after people have already contracted the disease.
This reminds me of an article my mom showed me that was on the AOL homepage about the dirty places in your home no one thinks about. No one really thinks that a couch can cause cancer because of what we have seen on the news, and instead we think about radiation or heating up plastic Tupperware in the microwave when we imagine what can give us cancer.
With all the new chemicals in everything from the water we drink and the food we eat to the furniture in our homes, it will become increasingly more difficult to monitor carcinogens and get rid of them. The link to the website for the germs article is here: http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/germy-places#8
I never would have considered such a thing could be sitting right here in my living room. That's ridiculous how the California State Law (which wasn't even doing it job to begin with) got changed into a national law! More insight should have been put into establishing a law that determines what people have in their homes and live with. I'm glad to hear that the government is taking action to make to be sure that fabric will be flame-resistant without the hazardous chemicals that were in the foam.
ReplyDeleteA lot of really good information was brought across to us, and I wanted to keep reading. To make this article even more riveting would be using examples like brain development issues in younger children, which was mentioned in the original article by Emily Main. I loved the great quotes.
What I wonder is why researchers from Duke University asked people to send in couch samples to begin with? What led them to question chemicals in couches?
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ReplyDeleteAlexandra, This article is so amazingly frightening. Every single day a lot like most American citizens whenever I come home from school, work, or practice I immediately take refuge on my couch in my basement. After reading this article it left me wondering if there is a difference between leather couches and couches made out of fabric and which one is healthier than the other. Through my research I found that a leather couch is healthier which is good because I have one but it's not my preferred fabric couch in my basement.
ReplyDeleteThis also reminded me of class and how we have discussed two epidemics (Plague and smallpox). One way that both of these diseases were able to be so affective on society is that there was a lot of ignorance to where the disease was coming from and what can be done about it to cure it or stop the spread. Now, one of the biggest mysteries in the medical world is how to stop cancer or cure it. I feel that if maybe people paid more attention to articles like this and purchased couches that didn't use as many chemicals that it will definitely reduce the risk of cancer to a lot of healthy American citizens. Now when I come home from a long day I'll choose to sit on the leather couch upstairs.
This article was very surprising to me. When I come home from school or the gym or wherever I may be, the couch always seems like a great place to go. The first thing I think of when I sit on the couch is not all of the bacteria that is on it or under it. It is kind of scary to think that these chemicals are never going to be completely eliminated from my home. This just goes to show how important it is to wash our hands on a daily bases. It is also very scary to think that you do not know exactly what bacteria is underneath our couches and how it could possibly affect us.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that we should not be able to sit on our couches now of course but it is a good heads up and it is something that we should all know about. This article was very interesting; it made me want to keep reading and also very good information!
This article really shocked me. I would never think that the place I watch TV every night could give me cancer. I would think that there would be some germs and bacteria there just like every other place in the world but never cancer. I think the fact that there are flame retardants in most couches too is a little odd and I feel like those could definitely be the cause for some cancers. Presently more and more people are getting diagnosed with different cancers and they don't even know how they got them. People are doing all the tests they need to do and still get cancer from an unknown source. I think that doctors may want to be testing household items in which no one would suspect diseases like cancer to be in. I think I may be looking at a new couch now just for the safety of my family.
ReplyDeleteI loved this article! It wasn't only shocking but eye opening as well. It goes to show that you are always in harm even in the place most of us feel the safest. Like most people, the first place I go after a long day is my couch and to think I'm risking my life for just lounging around is simply frightening. My parents just bought a new couch not even a year ago for the living room. Should I now be scared to lay on it? This is ridiculous...it seems like we cant even brush our teeth without being at risk of cancer. Its not only strange but sad to see what this world is coming to. What makes these researchers decide to study a couch or half the things they do? Granted, it leads to new discoveries, but is it really necessary?
ReplyDeleteThis article was definitely eye opening and make my stomach drop at the thought of me not even being safe relaxing in my own home. I just wanted to keep reading. Nice work Alexandra!
Alexandra,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this shocking article! I would guess that a couch is not the cleanest place in a house, but I assumed that it was because it came into contact with people frequently. I had no idea that the materials couches are made with had any threat at all!
I was not even aware that manufacturers commonly added flame retardant chemicals to the foam inside the common couch. Flame retardant chemicals such as asbestos commonly cause health issues. I am sure that the couch companies were aware of the risk of cancer and mesothelioma from flame retardant chemicals similar to asbestos. For this reason, I am also shocked that California took so long to repeal TD 117. Why would they be so ignorant to the fact that flame retardant chemicals have a history of cancers and other health issues?
This article was very informative and enlightening! You provided a lot of useful information to back up your claims. Kudos also to putting in the effort to find an issue which all of us truly can relate to. Although I wont hesitate to sit on my old beat up couch, I definitely will keep what I learned here in mind when I look to purchase a new one in the next few years.
This article is very alarming. Most of the time I am at my house, I'm laying on my couch. It is scary to think of all of the harmful toxins I am exposed to. I just think of it as a comfortable place to hang out, but I wouldn't have guessed it could be so dangerous.
ReplyDeleteThis article makes me wonder where there are other chemicals in my house. I feel as if everything around us puts us at risk of cancer.