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  • Health Care
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Major Health Care Provider Vows To Only Buy Toxic-Free Furniture

  •  Pauline Bartolone 
Tuesday, June 3, 2014 | Sacramento, CA
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Kaiser Permanente says its new facilities will not have upholstered furniture with flame retardant chemicals. A variety of studies have found the chemicals can be toxic… They’re linked to cancer, brain disorders and fertility problems.

Judy Levin of the Center for Environmental Health says the health provider’s decision is part of a shift to more chemical-free furniture.

“We think it sends a very strong signal, and that manufacturers will definitely be moved by that.”

The State of California recently changed its flammability standards. But Levin says consumers may want to get more information about furniture they buy for their homes.

“California’s new standard allows manufacturers to produce furniture without the use of flame retardant chemicals, but it doesn’t prohibit their use. And therefore consumers won’t have any other way to knw if flame retardants are used in their products, unless it’s labeled.”

Kaiser Permanente spends about $30 million dollars a year to furnish hundreds of medical offices and hospitals in eight states.

 Hero -scal -fontana -interior -lobby -615x 256 (1)

Southern California's updated Fontana Medical Center, opened in 2013, features furniture and fixtures that use fewer toxic chemicals. / Kaiser Permanente


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    Bill Proposes Labeling of Flame Retardants in Furniture

    Consumers would know whether their new sofa contains flame retardant chemicals in a bill the California legislature is considering. The proposal would require disclosing the information on labels.

 healthcareflame retardantfurnitureCenter for Environmental Health

Pauline Bartolone

News and Features Editor

Pauline Bartolone has been a journalist for more than 15 years, during which she was Capital Public Radio’s healthcare reporter from 2011-2015. Her work has aired frequently on National Public Radio.  Read Full Bio 

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