| Who would have thought that sitting on a sofa | | | | sofa, dubbed by the media as a "toxic sofa". |
| could lead to acute contact dermatitis? This is | | | | Worryingly, it is not only sofas being imported |
| exactly what happened to a 68 year old | | | | from abroad that are causing concern, but a |
| pensioner in the Midlands, bringing fresh fears | | | | story recently reported by Elizabeth Reeve |
| surrounding the dangers of importing furniture | | | | highlights the dangers of not buying sofas from |
| from abroad. | | | | reputable retailers. Conmen have been operating |
| The man experienced a rash initially on his neck, | | | | within the Bishop's Stortford area, going door to |
| which subsequently spread to his back and legs. | | | | door selling furniture, specifically sofas and arm |
| This rash then developed into open sores and | | | | chairs. |
| eventually resulted in the man having to be | | | | However, the furniture these men have been |
| admitted in to hospital to receive treatment for | | | | selling is causing concern both to local fire services |
| acute contact dermatitis. It was later discovered | | | | and also to Trading Standards authorities. Although |
| that the injuries were caused by the man's sofa, | | | | the leather sofas and armchairs come with fire |
| for which he paid £1,100. | | | | safety tags, tests conducted by the local Fire |
| Medical staff made a connection between skin | | | | Brigade have found these tags to be fake. The |
| damage the man incurred and dimethyl fumarate, | | | | sofas are filled full of foam, which catches fire |
| a toxic fungicide. The anti mold chemical had been | | | | easily, burns quickly and gives off toxic fumes, |
| packed, in the form of sachets, into the sofa. The | | | | making the furniture highly illegal. Reeve outlines |
| leather sofa which was manufactured in China has | | | | that "the Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety |
| brought about fears as to the safety of sofas | | | | Regulations Act 1988 states that foam used |
| manufactured abroad. This chemical was banned | | | | inside sofas must be more resistant to fire", |
| by the European Commission as of 1st May, | | | | meaning that these sofas are causing great |
| 2009. However, it is feared that the chemical | | | | concern to the local fire authorities as they pose |
| maybe within thousands of sofa imported from | | | | a significant risk to their owners. |
| China. An article written by Mary Bowers | | | | It is therefore important to ensure that all sofas |
| surrounding this story states that, "the fungicide | | | | are bought from a reputable sofa retailer and |
| which was packed into the sofas to protect them | | | | never from men selling door to door, as although |
| from humid conditions, can evaporate in warm | | | | the sofas they are selling may be somewhat |
| conditions and can soak through clothes on to | | | | cheaper they pose an incredible fire hazard. |
| skin." | | | | Furthermore, when purchasing a sofa from a |
| The pensioner, whose injuries took 3 months to | | | | retailer make sure to check that it meets all |
| heel, was the first person, in British history, to | | | | British and European standards. |
| receive compensation for suffering burns from a | | | | |