As we reported before (Is your leather sofa making you sick) packets of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) are sometimes attached to leather furniture to inhibit mold growth during storage and shipping. These packets are supposed to be removed at retail. Mold-free furniture is all well and good, but peeling skin and hideous rashes, not so much. As it turns out, DMF causes really terrible skin reactions in most people. Recently, leather sofas packed with DMF have been linked to cases of difficult-to-treat eczema, respiratory problems, and severe chemical burns.
Although the DMF starts out in its packet, body heat can vaporize the chemical and toxic vapors can then seep into the leather. There have been multiple reports of people getting serious chemical burns after merely sitting on a sofa that contained a DMF packet.
Who knew that being a couch potato could cause such distress? Certainly not the rash-riddled owners who unwittingly continued to use their sofas even after the symptoms first appeared.
DMF was prohibited from being used in production in the European Union. But following a recent spate of leather-furniture problems, it’s no longer allowed in imported goods either. In England, a class-action lawsuit has been brought against a furniture retailer that imported sofas with DMF. No such ban exists in the U.S., but legislation proposing one (HR 3080) has been introduced in by California representative Jackie Speier.
After our first story on this subject about a year ago, CU has received many complaints of symptoms matching those reported in England, so there’s no reason to believe that leather furniture in the U.S. is free from DMF.
We at Consumers Union recommend that you be vigilant when shopping for sofas. Be sure to ask whether DMF packets are used and check for yourself if any have been left behind, and if so, be wary about purchasing that model. We’re very interested in hearing about any issues our readers might have with leather furniture and DMF, so please report any incidents to us in the comment section of this blog.
--Jason Harary
Update: August 17, 2010
Many of the comments we received on this blog post asked about what the packets of DMF look like and where they can be found. Since we have not yet had first hand experience with these packets, we couldn't report on this with any certainty. Thanks to reader "RB" who alerted us to a video from the UK that answers these questions. From the video, it appears that the packets look much like the silca gel packets that are often shipped with electronic goods and shoes. But to find them, you might have to rip open the fabric ticking on the underside of the furniture.
I have a sofa that was imported from China bought at a Canadian furniture store, and from the first day of having it in my house, I have had a burning rash, nothing gave me relief, went to the doctor, prescribed prednisone, it worked for the 10 days on it, but 2 days after finishing it, burning rash is back, and the sofa is not in my house anymore.
I wish I knew about this problem before I purchased a leather sofa made in China.!!!
I have reported it to Health Canada, I can only hope they have a recall on this.cause the store will not refund me.
I bought a leather sofa and loveseat from Leon's furniture in Canada,
rash started first day of having it in my house, then it progressed to a burning rash, my arms and legs were red , blisters, intensely itchy, I tried to calm it with calamine lotion, cortisone creams, allergy pills for itch, apple cider vinegar, cool water, oatmeal , etc, nothing would take away the pain, so I went to the doctor, and he prescribed prednisone, he was hoping it would jumpstart my immune system , it worked as long as I was on it, for 12 days, then it returned 3 days after the prednisone was done.
I contacted the store, they laughed and said wasn't from their Chinese imported leather, and would do nothing for me.
Office Furniture London
Pls tell me how I can clean my leather furniture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sam I too bought my sofa and chair from Leons!!! but they told me no complaints, so something is going on here! I will email you my details.
I purchased an Ashley leather recliner from Reclinerland in June. I did not have any of the skin problems noted but everytime I sat in the chair my eyes would burn. I called the store and was told they had not recieved any other complaints. He suggestied I try to clean the chair with a leather cleaner. I set the chair on my deck for a day to see if the fresh air would help. It did not. However it is now August and the problem seems to be getting better. I wonder if anyone else has had this problem.
As an ex-furniture manufacturer (many years ago), we found that
other materials than leather could mold. Our form of protection, then, was to keep things dry. Has the condition and chemical been associated with any other upholstery fabrics?
Where do they put the packets of DMF so that I can check and see if they have been removed? Can I remove them myself?
Where do they put these packets of chemicals - our leather couch has attached cushions - bought at Leons in London - Thanks
wishing to ask a question of other folks.we purchased a leather chair from lazyboy store in bayers lake,halifax and i to have had the rash/itch like you can't beieve.been on predisone for over nine months had a lot of testing done,no luck.i'm not sure if the chair was made in china.also we were vacationing in florida and rented a beautiful house ,spotless however two living rooms one with all leather furniture of which i used some and this is where my itch started.i'm sure others in my family sat on this as well .other members of my family use the chair in the house here and no problem.wondering if those who have left comments are the only ones affected or have others in their families experienced anything as well from sitting on same sofa.would love a comment,still suffering from this miserable itch and 25mg a day keeps it under control but can't take it for ever.tks so much.
I'm surprised that Silica Gel is not the preferred moisture reduction tool used for this purpose as it has been since 1919. Is DMF(dimethyl fumarate) cheaper to produce or easier to obtain than Silica Gel?
Yesterday, before encountering your article, I discovered two large packets of Silica Gel under the head cushion of my new leather recliner; I've used Silica Gel on the job for decades and, because of Material Data Safety Sheet information required by my employer, realize Silica Gel poses little or no personal hazard if used correctly.
So, I tossed the packs of Silica Gel as I always do when it's encountered in my consumer goods.
It's good to know about the use of DMF for consumer protection; thank you for your article.
I'm reminded of 'stuck in the mud' attitudes that prevent common sense application of safe material tools. For instance, British Petroleum and our own Coast Guard would not use a naturally occurring clay substance to absorb and sink leaking oil in the Gulf of Mexico recently.
The product has been used successfully by the U.S. Coast Guard to control fresh water petroleum spills for years but, for the Gulf Oil Spill, was discarded in favor of oil dispersants that present long term chemical damage to the Gulf ecosystems. That choice of chemical dispersants over a non-threatening natural substance may have been an expedient decision because dispersants were already stocked by BP.
If we return our furniture when it causes problems perhaps the retailers will check to be sure these are removed before sale. If they refuse the return let's take them to court, with this evidence alone we're guaranteed to win the return if not damages as well.
So does Consumer Reports read these posts and respond?
I too would like to know where this is placed. We have 2 leather focker /recliners an were looking for a sofa also. We have not had any problem, but still would like to know
So they laughed huh, if they do end up recalled I see a class-action lawsuit coming. Sue the retailers, good luck (seriously) if you try to bring action against the Chinese. Better luck just getting the retailers to stop selling the products after they settle for damages, at least then the Chinese manufacturers won't have a market and lose money.
One point: most people use the initials "DMF" to refer to N,N-dimethylformamide, NOT to dimethyl fumarate!
A couple of critical pieces of information are missing from this story. Where are the packet usually placed? Under the cushions? Stapled somewhere to the frame? And what do they look like? Also, a picture of a DMF packet would help.
We purchased an Ashley reclining sofa from Nebraska Furniture Mart here in Kansas City, Kansas. We purchased a protection plan from Guardsman. As of now they have been out to fix the side panel of one cushion 4 times and said that Ashley Furniture should replace the sofa because it is defective.
After numerous emails I have received no response from Ashley Furniture.
Now I find out that the horrible itching rash on the back of my legs is their fault too.
I assumed it had something to do with the dye in the leather. I had no Idea that they knowingly sent out furniture with these DMF packets attached. I feel sure that this is the cause of my rash and itching. I will never again buy furniture from Ashley.
Am about to purchase furniture, where are the packets and what do they look like?
To: Cherie, re: furniture from Ashleys - it is NOT the Ashleys. It is "made in China". Check the tag to discover where your new furniture was made, and discover the truth.
You'd probably be better off (i.e. healthier) to buy your furniture from estate sales, second hand stores and garage sales, still carefully checking tags, so you don't end up with another piece of excrement made in China.
Consumer reports set me on fire and didn't tell me how to put myself out. How do I "check for yourself if any have been left behind?" I purchased my leather furniture a year ago - where do I look, what do I look for, etc? Very disappointing gap in this article.
DOES ANYONE OUT THERE KNOW WHAT THESE DMF PACKETS LOOK LIKE AND WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED ON LEATHER FURNITURE? NO ONE HAS ANSWERED THIS QUESTION YET.
WE BOUGHT A LEATHER RECLINING SOFA AND CHAIR FROM BECK'S FURNITURE HERE IN SACRAMENTO,CA AND HAVE HAD IT FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW. NEITHER MYSELF, MY HUSBAND NOR SON HAVE HAD ANY RASHES OR OTHER SKIN PROBLEMS FROM IT, SO FAR.
BUT, I STILL WANT TO INSPECT IT TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NONE OF THESE PACKETS ATTACHED TO IT. SO, IF ANYONE OUT THERE KNOWS WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE AND WHERE THEY ARE ATTACHED TO SOFAS OR CHAIRS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP. THANK YOU.
Come on Jason Harary,if you're going to write something like that then be thorough and tell us where the packets are and what they look like.
This video shows what the packets look like and where they are located on a sofa.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2008/10/itchy_sofa_update.html
In response to Ken Bennett's question
My husband doesn't seem to be affected by the leather.
just returned from a trip and spent 4 days sitting on our leather auto seats and experienced a rash. this is a conversion van and does not have original oem seating
I have had a rash since I purchased a la-z boy leather recliner in 2007
and never connected it until I purchased a leather love seat earlier this year. and then the rash turned into a burning one, it was then I realized when the rash started coincided with the purchase of the la-z boy recliner, which I found out the leather was imported from China. I called La-z boy they didnt want to talk to me, GRRRRRR, coverup I think
It's not just leather furniture. I have had a reaction to a cotton slipcovered chair from JC Penney and we found the packets stapled to the frame under the cotton cover on the bottom of both the chair and ottoman. There were 2 large ones in each piece of furniture. I am hoping this "off gasses" in a couple of days. Does anyone know if it does? It was made in China. SO disappointed as I love these!!
Not just couches, but shoes, and wallets, any leather good could be shipped with this stuff. Bought a wallet 4 weeks ago and ended up getting burns on my legs. Crazy. When mfg pulled the ID #, they did in fact confirm it was shipped with dimethyl fumarate, back from 1998. Look carefully. They usually have a small round tag that say "anti fungal agent" or the like and about the size of a dime to quarter.
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