Does replacing old furniture lower the flame retardant chemicals in your blood?

What's actually in it

Older couches, recliners, and mattresses made before 2014 often contain high levels of flame retardant chemicals in their foam. These chemicals slowly escape into your home as dust. You breathe them in and absorb them through your skin. After years of exposure, they build up in your blood.

Newer furniture made after updated flammability standards took effect tends to use less of these chemicals, or different ones that may leave the body faster.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environ Int tracked people's blood levels of flame retardant biomarkers before and after they replaced their old furniture. The goal was to see whether a real-world change in the home could make a measurable difference in the body.

It did. Blood levels of several PBDEs and organophosphate flame retardants dropped after the swap. The decline was noticeable within months, and it continued over time as the old chemical residues cleared from the body.

The study also measured dust levels in the home. Homes with newer furniture had lower concentrations of flame retardant particles in their dust, which confirmed the furniture was the main source.

If your couch or mattress was made before 2014 and the foam is crumbling or exposed, it's likely shedding chemicals into your air. Replacing it with a newer model, especially one labeled as made without added flame retardants, is one of the most effective ways to cut your exposure at home.