The Danger in Your Decor– by Stephanie M. Lee at the San Francisco Chronicle

The following is an excerpt from a full length article published in The San Francisco Chronicle:

In 2005, the interior designer was trying to make her Marin County house a healthy environment for her two toddlers. But virtually all the couches on the market, she learned, contain foam with toxic flame retardants, the unintended result of a 1970s California law.

So with a furniture maker's help, Joaquin designed her own sofa. Yellow and big enough to seat seven, it is made of sustainably harvested wood, natural latex foam, organic wool - and no flame retardants.

"I ended up actually designing my own furniture because there wasn't an alternative out there yet," said Joaquin, 42. "Things have changed dramatically since."

Joaquin is among a growing number of consumers whose desire to keep health hazards out of their homes has given rise to a new niche market: organic furniture…

…Scientists have linked the flame retardants to health hazards such as infertility, developmental delays, lowered IQs in children and cancer, and studies show they do little to delay the spread of flames. link to source.