Ban On Fire Retardant Products: San Francisco Action Is First In Nation

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — San Francisco supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved a ban on the sale of furniture and children's products treated with flame retardant chemicals.

The vote makes San Francisco the first city in the nation to approve such a ban, according to Supervisor Mark Farrell, who introduced the legislation.

The chemicals have been linked to issues including hormone disruption, lower IQ, attention problems, reproductive problems and cancer. They are known to persist in the environment and accumulate in the bodies of people and animals.

Children, pregnant women, low-income people and firefighters are considered particularly at risk.

"We are taking a critical step forward here in protecting the health of all San Franciscans, especially children, pregnant women and mothers, as well as our firefighters and first responders," Farrell said Tuesday.

The legislation applies to both brick and mortar businesses and online retailers and allows nonprofits to pursue legal action against those violating the ordinance if the city attorney declines to do so.

California required flame retardants in furniture and some children's products for 40 years but dropped that requirement in 2013.

Despite the change, they are still found in 29 percent of products tested by state agencies.

Farrell Tuesday said the legislation was intended to "force the market to change and provide healthy and safe furniture for our residents."

— Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock