Natural and Sustainable

Your furniture looks good, but is it good for you? Here’s some startling news about a health hazard that may be lurking in your living room and what you can do about it. (Source: Some information taken from Natural Home 2005)

For the past 30 years, flame-retardant chemicals known as polyurethane foam, which is found in most upholstered furniture, as well as in other household goods. This flame-retardant chemical can migrate into the enviornment and also into humans and pets. Everytime you sit down, it’s likely that a little puff of PBDE comes out of your chair or sofa. PBDEs are a real problem.

PBDEs break down in the body to form a compound that behaves like an estrogen and may stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells.

Fortunately, PBDEs are losing ground. Two of the three types of PBDE mixtures, penta and octa, were banned by the European Union in August of 2004 and are now largely being phased out in the United States as well.

It’s unclear how much U.S. Furniture has been treated with PBDEs or other flame retardants because manufacturers and retailers are not required to disclose whether PBDEs are in their products, there’s no sure way to tell if a piece of furniture or other item contains the toxins.

In the meantime, here are six strategies to reduce your exposure.

1. Buy furniture and electronis from companies that have reduced or eliminated the use of PBDEs in some or all of their products.

2. Ask the retailers and manufacturers which types of flame retardants are in their products.

3. When shopping for a mattress, consider wool filling, which is naturally falme-resistant.

4. Get rid of dust with a HEPA vacuum. It will deminish your exposure to PBDEs that are already in your home.
5. Opt for hard flooring so that the dust from the PBDEs won’t settle in your carpet.

6. What your diet. Eat lean meat and low-or no-fat dairy foods. Although researchers don’t fully understand how PBDES can migrate from a couch or chair to a cow, they do know that PBDEs accumulate at higher levels in fatty foods than in low-fat ones.

Some Feel Good About Buying Furniture Companies:

• Bob Timberlake (800-481-1995)
• Desiron (212-353-2600)
• Earth & Elements (earthandelements.com)
• EI Environmental Language (847-382-9285)
• Furniture (800-326-4895)
• George Smith (georgesmith.com)
• Jonathan Adler Furniture (johnathanalderfurniture.com)
• Lexinton Upholstery (lexington.com)
• Natuica (nautica.com)
• Palmer Home (336-236-5300)
• Q Collection (212-529-1400)
• Robin Bruce ( robinbruce.com)
• Rowe ( 703-847-8670)
• Tommy Bahama ( tommybahama.com)
• Waverly (waverly.com)
• Woolrich ( 800-966-5372)

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: If your school is under the grade as far as organic and natural food choices for your school-age children at lunch then start packing their lunches and sending them off with a healthy choice. Pack children’s lunches with items such as Clifbars®, organic cheese and chips, and veggies such as carrots, celery sticks. Make sure everything is organic or natural. You don’t want to give your kids lunches packed with chemicals. For more information on how to get your school or preschool on a farm to school program, click here.

(Click here to Join Two Angry Moms® on thier quest for healthier school foods.)