Your sofa can give you CANCER: Materials used to fireproof settees are linked to a 74% rise in thyroid tumours


Toxic chemicals used to fireproof sofas and mattresses have caused a surge in thyroid cancer, experts warn

After taking blood samples from people with thyroid cancer, scientists from Duke University in North Carolina found patients had a high exposure to flame retardants called PBDEs.

It comes after the Government was repeatedly warned of the potential dangers of the chemicals by the civil servant for furniture fire safety policy.

Terry Edge, who quit the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy last year after his proposals to restrict all flame retardants were rejected, said: ‘Flame retardants are causing thousands of cancers and other illnesses, with children particularly vulnerable.’

Thyroid cancer cases have leapt by 74 per cent in the last decade in Britain, with US researchers blaming the rising rates on flame retardants.

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