WEDNESDAY, Nov. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Many couches sold in the United States contain toxic chemical flame retardants that have been linked with cancer, hormone disruption and neurological damage, according to a new study.

Researchers tested 102 couches and found that 85 percent of them were treated with chemical flame retardants that are known to be toxic or lack adequate information about their health effects.

Forty-one percent of the couches contained chlorinated Tris (TDCPP), a cancer-causing flame retardant removed from baby pajamas in the 1970s, and 17 percent contained the worldwide-banned chemical pentaBDE, the Duke University and University of California, Berkeley, researchers said.

They noted that many of the flame retardants found in the sofas are associated with hormone disruption, neurological and reproductive damage, and cancer in hundreds of animal studies and a number of human studies.

The chemicals continuously move out of furniture foam into house dust, which can then be consumed by pets and people, especially small children who are near floors and put their hands in their mouths, the researchers explained.

The study was published Nov. 28 in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

"Hard to believe, 35 years after our research contributed to removing Tris from children's sleepwear, our current study suggests that more than a third of Americans' couches contain the same toxic flame retardant," study co-author Dr. Arlene Blum, executive director of the Green Science Policy Institute, said in a UC Berkeley news release. "And sadly enough, many Americans could now have increased cancer risks from the Tris in their furniture."

The Berkeley-based institute provides unbiased scientific data to government, industry and nongovernmental organizations.

In related news, another study published the same day found that most homes have levels of flame retardants that are above federal health guidelines. The study was conducted by researchers at the Massachusetts-based Silent Spring Institute, which identifies links between chemicals and women's health, especially breast cancer.

"Our study of flame retardants in homes found two different cancer-causing Tris flame retardants in the dust inside all of the homes we studied," study first author Robin Dodson said in the news release.

In a statement, a group representing furniture makers said the industry has been caught between legislative demands to make products both fire-resistant and at the same time free of hazardous chemicals.

"In 1978, the industry established the Upholstered Furniture Action Council (UFAC) and released voluntary upholstery construction guidelines that . . . combine to make an upholstered piece resistant to ignition by a smoldering cigarette," the American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA) said in the statement. And, it added, "over the past 25 years, the incidence of household fires involving upholstered furniture in the United States has been reduced by more than 85 percent."

However, part of that success has been based on the incorporation of flame-retardant chemicals in upholstery, AHFA said.

"Throughout nearly four decades of debate over how best to reduce the number of residential fires that involve upholstered furniture, AHFA has steadfastly maintained the position that product modifications should be made only as they are proven safe, effective and affordable for the greatest number of consumers," the group said in the statement.

More information

Pollution in People has more about PBDEs.