Study finds potential toxins in most US couches

Eighty-five percent of U.S. couches contain potentially toxic flame retardants, according to new research.

A study published in Environmental Science and Technology found the chemicals, which have been tied to serious health problems, in nearly all of the 102 couch samples tested from around the United States.

Forty-one percent of the samples also tested positive for chlorinated trisaminomethane or "tris," a suspected carcinogen that was removed from use in children's pajamas in the 1970s. 

On Wednesday, advocates jumped on the research to argue for passage of the Safe Chemicals Act, a bill sponsored by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) that would restrict the use of chemicals that are not proven to be safe.

"This study spotlights how people are harmed by the glaring holes in federal consumer protections from chemicals," said Andy Igrejas, director of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, in a statement.

"A very toxic chemical has hitched a ride into our living rooms, and our children's bodies, because we let the chemical industry operate on the honor system."

A lead trade group for the chemical industry rebutted the study, meanwhile, saying it contained "no data ... that indicate that the levels of flame retardants found would cause any human health problems."

In a statement, the American Chemistry Council added that flame retardants in furniture save lives by providing "valuable escape time" in case of a fire.

Fire and chemical safety standards are generally made at the state level.

The study was conducted by researchers with Duke University, Boston University and the University of California, Berkeley.

One author was UC Berkeley's Arlene Blum, whose research led to the voluntary removal of tris from kid's sleepwear.

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