Are Flame Retardants in Furniture Really That Bad for Health?

You see headlines about toxic chemicals in couches and worry about health risks. It’s a valid concern. The problem is that not all flame retardants are the same, and the term creates a lot of confusion.

Some flame retardants are very bad for your health because they are toxic, persistent chemicals that leak into your home. However, many modern mineral-based flame retardants are non-toxic and work in a completely safe way to stop fires.

From my perspective as a manufacturer of aluminum hydroxide (ATH) in Henan, this issue is very clear. The industry has a history with bad chemicals, but safe, effective solutions exist today. My job is to provide a product that offers fire safety without any health compromises. Some suppliers might use cheaper, questionable fillers to cut costs, but when we supply ATH as a flame retardant, it will never produce substances harmful to the human body. Its chemical properties are stable, and it does not release harmful toxins during a fire. It’s about making the responsible choice.

Let’s break down the real risks and the safe solutions¹, so you can make an informed decision for your products and customers.

Are flame retardant fabrics toxic to humans?

It’s a direct question that deserves a direct answer. Hearing the words "chemical" and "fabric" together can make anyone cautious, especially for products that people are in close contact with every day.

Yes, some flame retardant fabrics can be toxic. [7] This is especially true for those treated with older, halogenated chemicals like brominated flame retardants (BFRs), which can leach out and are linked to serious health problems like cancer and hormone disruption. [1, 6]

The problem is that the flame retardant chemicals don’t always stay in the fabric. [17] They can migrate out and attach to household dust, which people, especially children, can then inhale or ingest. [1, 12] These older chemicals, known as Persistent Organic Pollutants, build up in the body and the environment. [10, 17] Studies have linked these specific chemicals—often called organohalogens or organophosphates—to a range of health issues, from affecting a child’s brain development to disrupting our immune and reproductive systems. [1, 17] This is why many of them have been phased out or banned in many countries. [15]

This is where the story changes for the better. The industry recognized this problem and developed safer alternatives. The most important of these are mineral hydrates, like the aluminum hydroxide (ATH) we produce. ATH is non-toxic and works physically, not chemically. [2, 3] It doesn’t contain the harmful elements (like bromine or chlorine) found in older retardants. [8] When a fire starts, ATH releases water vapor, which cools the material and suppresses smoke, and the aluminum oxide left behind is a harmless ceramic-like barrier. [5, 24] There are no toxic byproducts, which makes it a much safer choice for human health. [3, 5]

Do all couches have flame retardants?

After learning about the risks of some flame retardants, it’s natural to wonder if every couch is a potential source of exposure. The answer is not as simple as a yes or no.

No, not all couches have flame retardants today. A 1975 California law called TB 117 led to their widespread use across North America for decades. [6, 22] However, this standard was updated, and as of 2015, manufacturers can meet fire safety standards without them. [6, 27]

For about 40 years, that California rule was the default for the entire continent because manufacturers didn’t want to make separate versions for one state. [22] This meant that almost any couch made between 1975 and 2015 likely contains flame retardant chemicals. [6, 25] The problem was, studies showed that these chemicals weren’t even that effective in a real house fire and posed significant health risks². [6, 17]

After a lot of work from scientists and health advocates³, the law was changed. The new standard, TB 117-2013, is a smolder test⁴ that fabrics can pass without needing added chemicals in the foam. [27] Furthermore, a 2020 California law banned most flame retardants⁵ in new upholstered furniture. [6] Now, you can find a label on furniture made after 2015 that clearly states whether or not it contains added flame retardants. [22, 25] Many major retailers have already stopped using them. [25] So, if you are buying a new couch, you have many safe, flame-retardant-free options. However, if you have an older couch, there is a high chance it contains these chemicals. [26]

Is flame retardant unhealthy?

This is the most important question for any buyer or consumer. The word itself sounds protective, but it can hide a real health risk if the wrong substance is used.

Yes, many flame retardants are unhealthy. [16] Those containing bromine or chlorine (halogenated) are linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and developmental problems, especially in children. [1, 4] They don’t stay in the furniture and end up in our bodies. [11]

This is the part of the business that I, as a producer, take very seriously. Some unscrupulous merchants, to control their costs, will use materials that are not safe. This is why having a reliable supplier is so important. The halogenated flame retardants are concerning because they are persistent and bioaccumulative—meaning they don’t break down easily and they build up in our bodies and the environment. [17] They can disrupt the endocrine system, interfere with thyroid function, and some are considered carcinogens. [1, 4]

But it is critical to understand this does not apply to all flame retardants. This is why I have focused our factory on producing aluminum hydroxide. ATH is completely different. It is essentially a stable, inert mineral. [2] Think of it like a very fine, purified sand. It doesn’t interact with the body’s systems. Its power comes from simple physics: when heated, it releases water. [5] That’s it. It does its job of stopping fire without creating toxic gases or byproducts. [3, 13] When you choose a product made with ATH, you are choosing a flame retardant that is not unhealthy. You are choosing a safe, stable, and predictable material.

Does IKEA use flame retardants in couches?

Many people look to large, global retailers like IKEA to understand industry standards. Their policies can give us a good idea of where the market is heading regarding chemical safety.

No, IKEA does not add chemical flame retardants to its upholstered furniture sold in the U.S. and much of Europe. [9, 21] The company banned brominated flame retardants in 1998 and only uses flame retardants when absolutely required by local law. [9, 20]

IKEA has been quite proactive on this issue. Because they are a European company, they have had to follow stricter chemical regulations⁶ for a long time. [9] Their policy is to avoid chemical flame retardants and instead use materials and designs that are inherently more fire-resistant. [18] For example, they might use wool or special barrier fabrics. [20]

For markets like the United States, the changes to the California laws were very helpful. Since the rules no longer force manufacturers to add these chemicals to foam, IKEA can sell the same flame-retardant-free furniture in the U.S. as it does in Europe. [23] They state that if they must use a flame retardant to meet a specific country’s law, they use ones that meet very strict emission requirements. [18] This approach from a major player like IKEA shows that the furniture industry is moving away from the old, harmful chemicals. It proves that fire safety can be achieved without risking consumer health, which is the exact principle we follow in making our aluminum hydroxide products.

Conclusion

The story of flame retardants has two sides. While older, halogenated chemicals pose real health risks, modern alternatives like aluminum hydroxide offer a safe and effective way to protect furniture from fire without introducing toxins into our homes.