Do brominated flame retardants in couch cushions damage your cells' energy systems?

What's actually in it

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are chemicals sprayed on or mixed into foam padding in couches, mattresses, and upholstered chairs to slow the spread of fire. Common types include PBDEs, HBCD, and TBBPA. They don't stay locked in the foam. Over time, they escape into household dust, where you breathe them in or swallow them.

Young children crawling on floors and putting their hands in their mouths are especially exposed to flame retardant dust.

What the research says

A 2026 review in Arch Toxicol examined how BFRs attack mitochondria, the parts of your cells that turn food into energy. The findings are alarming. These chemicals damage mitochondria through several different paths at the same time.

BFRs disrupt the electron transport chain, the assembly line inside mitochondria that produces ATP (your cells' fuel). They also punch holes in mitochondrial membranes, causing oxidative stress as reactive molecules leak out and damage surrounding cell structures.

On top of that, BFRs interfere with mitochondrial DNA repair. Unlike the DNA in your cell nucleus, mitochondrial DNA has very limited repair tools. Once damaged, mitochondria can't fix themselves easily, leading to a buildup of broken energy factories over time.

This kind of damage shows up as fatigue, metabolic slowdown, and higher risk of diseases like diabetes and neurodegeneration. If your couch was made before 2015, it likely contains BFRs. Consider replacing old foam furniture or using tightly woven slipcovers to reduce dust exposure.