This article will attempt to inform you about the prevention of potential chemical burns from your corner sofa or other furniture. What’s that did you say? – Chemical burns from your couch? That’s right, very large groups of people have reported chemical burns from their couches and other furniture. It is a serious problem and it is important for you to know about it. The problem became so serious that the EU (European Union) banned one chemical in particular in early 2009. That chemical is Dimethyl Fumarate – also sometimes known as DMF.

As far as is known, this problem has not yet been identified in the United States. The problem apparently arose when some makers/dealers of furniture in the UK began applying this chemical to protect the furniture from mold growth. The chemical did protect the furniture – but caused injury to people like you – the consumers and users of the end product/furniture. A class action suit was filed in the EU and settled for millions of dollars – it was that serious a problem. For further information, you may wish to read the excellent 26 April 2010 BBC News story “Long Battle for ‘Toxic Sofa’ Victims Ends with Pay-Out”. Chemical Week in their 3 May 2010 piece reported that the payout in the UK alone was $31 Million.

But if you don’t live in the UK or the EU, how can you protect yourself? You can check your new (or used) goods for sachets or powders that may be present in the article. A sachet can look like those small packets marked ‘Silica Gel’ that you sometimes find in shoes and other leather and fabric goods. You may even want to look for small pastilles (small shapes like ‘M&M’s candies). If these are present, you may want to read the contents or labels available. If not, you can seek chemical testing at an independent outside chemical laboratory (such as Intertek). Though you should not look to pay the burden of those costs yourself. You may wish to seek compensation from the dealer and/or manufacturer if you do indeed find a positive test result in your furniture.

The nature and degree of these burns has been insidious and injurious – it is important that you and the rest of the public be informed about this serious and potential hazard. This is just some information on how to avoid chemical burns with your corner sofa or other articles of furniture.

Visit My Corner Sofa for more information.