Are flame retardants in sofas and mattresses safe to be around?
No. Halogenated flame retardants accumulate in the body and disrupt hormones and neurodevelopment.
What's actually in it
Most upholstered furniture and mattresses made before 2015 contain halogenated flame retardants added to the foam inside. These chemicals are sprayed or mixed into polyurethane foam to slow burning. The problem: they don't stay in the foam. They migrate into household dust, which you and your children breathe and ingest.
Flame retardants are fat-soluble, so they accumulate in fatty tissue. They also cross the placenta and appear in breast milk.
What the research says
A 2026 study in Arch Environ Contam Toxicol tracked temporal trends in halogenated flame retardants following the Stockholm Convention listing of specific compounds. Even as some chemicals were phased out under international agreements, replacements took their place with similar properties and similar concerns. Levels in human blood and breast milk have remained elevated.
The safest option is furniture with no added flame retardants. Look for upholstered furniture that meets fire safety standards through natural materials like wool (naturally flame-resistant) rather than chemical treatment.
For bedding, wool home textiles pass fire safety standards without any added flame retardant chemicals.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Effect of Stockholm Convention Listing on Temporal Trends of Halogenated Flame Retardants | Arch Environ Contam Toxicol | 2026 |
What to use instead
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