Can flame retardant chemicals from furniture affect a pregnant woman's placenta?

What's actually in it

TDCIPP (tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate) is a flame retardant chemical added to couch cushions, car seats, nursing pillows, and other foam products. It escapes from furniture as dust that you breathe in or touch. Pregnant women absorb it through their skin and lungs, and it reaches the placenta.

What the research says

A 2026 study in J Hazard Mater found that TDCIPP damages immune cells in the placenta called decidual macrophages. These cells protect the pregnancy by managing inflammation at the site where the embryo implants. TDCIPP triggered a type of cell death called ferroptosis, which caused DNA damage in these protective cells.

When the placental immune cells stop working, the body may reject the pregnancy. The study linked TDCIPP exposure to higher miscarriage risk through this mechanism.

To lower your exposure, choose furniture labeled "TB117-2013 compliant without added flame retardants." Vacuum and dust often with a HEPA filter to remove flame retardant dust from your home. Wash your hands before eating, especially after handling foam products.