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INVESTIGATION: Is your sofa toxic? episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 10, 2026 · 31 MIN

INVESTIGATION: Is your sofa toxic?

from The Story

For decades UK sofas have contained chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and infertility because of uniquely strict fire rules. Up to a fifth of their foam consists of a chemical not used in any other country’s sofas, but is now classed “probably carcinogenic to humans” by the World Health Organisation. So how deadly is your sofa, why is the UK an outlier and are things set to improve? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory Guest: Martina Lees, senior property reporter, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Edward Drummond We want to hear from you - email: [email protected] Read more: Sitting comfortably? Your sofa is among the most toxic on Earth Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Apr 10, 2026

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INVESTIGATION: Is your sofa toxic?

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