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Foam Replacement Environmental Exposure Study (FREES)

Study of flame retardant exposures in San Francisco Bay Area adults and the potential effect of removing foam-containing furniture from their homes

Red couch

The Foam Replacement Environmental Exposure Study (FREES) is a collaboration with the University of California, Davis (Dr. Deborah Bennett, Principal Investigator), Environmental Working Group, Green Science Policy Institute, Silent Spring Institute and Sequoia Foundation. The purpose of the study was to assess changes in participants’ flame retardant biomarker concentrations after removal or replacement of foam-containing furniture in the home. 

Biomonitoring California measured levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) in serum or urine. Samples were collected before furniture replacement and at regular intervals after furniture replacement over the two-year study period.

Prior to 2014, upholstered foam furniture was more likely to contain flame retardant chemicals due to Californias’ furniture flammability standards. To address concerns about the toxicity of chemical flame retardants, California changed flammability standards for upholstered furniture in 2013 (TB117-2013). These updated standards allow manufacturers to meet requirements without adding flame retardant chemicals.

A companion study has been conducted to measure levels of PBDEs and OPFRs in dust samples collected in participants’ homes before and after removal of foam- containing furniture. Samples of foam were also collected from both old and new furniture to provide data on changes in flame retardant formulations. Results from these sampling efforts will help us examine sources and routes of exposure to flame retardants.

Biomonitoring California's participation in this project was supported in part by funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Cooperative Agreement #5U88EH001148-02).

Project Type:

Full project collaboration

Project Status:

Ongoing

Participants:

28 adults

Sample Collection Date:

to

Sample Collection Area:

San Francisco Bay Area

Flame retardant biomarker levels and furniture replacement

This analysis looked at how participants’ flame retardant biomarker levels changed after removing a piece of foam-containing furniture made before 2014 from their homes. We looked at changes in PBDE and OPFR levels among participants who removed or replaced foam-containing furniture and a comparison group with no furniture removal.

  • PBDE serum levels went down in all participants, matching overall population trends showing decreasing levels of PBDEs in serum. This trend is likely due to manufacturing and regulatory changes limiting the use of PBDEs in the United States. We found that PBDE levels decreased 1.9 to 3.9 times faster in people who removed foam-containing furniture compared to those who did not.
  • For OPFRs, removing or replacing furniture did not significantly change levels. People could also be exposed to OPFRs through use of other products like electronics and vehicles.

Overall, results indicate that updated flammability standards can reduce exposures to flame retardant chemicals.

For more information, read the free full text article and the accompanying two-page fact sheet: Does your furniture contain harmful chemicals?

> Attfield KR, Berger K, Dodson RE, Bennet DH, Rodgers K, Moran R, Stoiber T, Wang Y, Gao S, Smith S, Park J-S, Blum A, Wu N. (2025). Flame retardant biomarker changes with furniture replacement after flammability standard update. Environmental Pollution. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127326