The health impacts of buying new furniture

We all like to treat ourselves to something new, and discounts on larger items such as furniture are at their best in July. The new “Autumn Collection” furniture styles are generally released in August meaning now is the time to get that last chance deal.

We spend a lot of time considering the style and color of the furniture, but one of the things we do not consider are the dangerous chemicals hidden inside.

Furniture hides a range of hazardous materials, such as glues, flame retardants, polishes and varnishes, some of which contain VOC’s.

VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) are the chemical that gives furniture that new smell. They are toxic gases that pollute the air in your home and cause a range of health effects such as headaches, nausea, eyes, nose and throat irritation. Some can even cause liver, kidney and central nervous system damage or even cancer. One of the main culprits here is formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde is a main component of adhesives and coatings. It is a colorless, strong smelling gas used to make building materials and is used in many household products. The most common health problems in people exposed to formaldehyde include irritation and watering of eyes as well as wheezing, coughing and damage to the lining of the nose and throat. Formaldehyde is also a well-known carcinogen having been classified as such by the EPA, IARC and NTP in the U.S.

Another group of chemicals that is in the news currently are PFAS’s. These are man-made chemicals that are used as a stain and water-resistant coating on furniture and other products. Recent research in Shanghai, has shown high levels of these chemicals in breastmilk, and in 2016, the U.S. found that drinking water contained higher levels of these chemicals than the advisory limit set by the EPA. The health effects of these chemicals include issues with growth learning and behavior in infants and older children, increased cholesterol levels, reduced fertility and an increased risk of cancer.

These chemicals are part of the manufacturing process and although industry is doing its upmost to minimize the hazardous chemicals in use, there will always be chemicals in our products, at least for the foreseeable future.
However, there are a few ways that we can safeguard our families and our homes from the effects of these chemicals.

1.Use air purifiers around the home to remove chemicals in the air
2.Baking soda sprinkled over furniture and carpets will act as a deodorizer.
3.Certain houseplants can filter these chemicals out of the air, such as Areca Palm or Lady Palm (Find a list of them here https://learn.eartheasy.com/articles/the-top-10-plants-for-removing-indoor-toxins/)

More ways to reduce chemicals in the home can be found in this article

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