Sweeney Looks to Ban Using Flame Retardants in Home Furniture

• Women with higher levels of flame retardants in their blood have smaller babies.
  
• Children exposed in the womb have lower IQs and attention problems.
  
• Other studies have linked flame retardants to male infertility, birth defects, and early puberty.
  
• A recent study in animals has linked toxic flame retardants to autism and obesity. 
  

“Children are especially sensitive to exposure to dangerous chemicals. We must apply common sense and refuse to add chemicals which represent real health risks and don’t provide any practical safety benefit,” he added.

These flame retardant chemicals Sweeney’s new legislation would ban were added in response to a 1975 California flammability standard, TB 117, which was developed, in part, due to concerns about the large number of cigarette fires that were started in homes.

Sweeney’s bill (A.6557) would not only now ban the use of chemical flame retardants in residential upholstered furniture, but would also require residential upholstered furniture sold in New York to comply with an open flame standard.

“Now that we have the Fire Safe Cigarette law in place there’s less risk from smolder fire. But although there are fewer fires caused by open flames such as candles, these fires tend to be deadlier,” Sweeney explained.

“Having an open flame standard in place will help ensure that people have a chance to escape safely, and will help prevent furniture from contributing fuel to the fire,” he added.

The legislation's supported by the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, The New York State Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Association, The New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Clean and Healthy New York and Environmental Advocates of New York, according to the assemblyman.

It’s also been designated as an issue of united concern for the Association of Fire Districts, NYS Association of Fire Chiefs, NYS Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association, County Fire Coordinators Association and the Volunteer Fire Police Association, he noted.

The legislation was expected to be taken up before the Assembly during Earth Day proceedings.

“We need to take steps to protect the public who are exposed to these chemicals on a daily basis, and we need to protect the firefighters who are exposed to a whole cocktail of chemicals when they arrive to put out the fire,” Sweeney said.

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