Throwing out flame-retardant furniture can reduce toxic chemicals in blood, study finds

Flame retardants commonly used in furniture are linked to serious health issues, including cancer and thyroid disease

Removing old furniture made with flame retardants from people's homes can significantly reduce the amount of the toxic chemicals in blood, a new 10-year, peer-reviewed study by California regulators and public health groups has found.

The drop that researchers found was a super big deal", said Arlene Blum, the director of the Green Science Policy Institute who has for decades worked to reduce the level of flame retardants in consumer goods.