How your sofa could be a cancer risk: Ministers forced to change fire safety laws that mean many are full of toxic chemicals

Fire safety rules requiring British sofas to be filled with potentially harmful chemicals are finally being overhauled.

The move follows years of campaigning by mother Delyth Fetherston-Dilke, who warned that the regulations were exposing families to harmful chemicals in their homes.

An investigation has revealed how, for almost 40 years, rules far stricter than those in other countries have made it almost impossible to pass furniture fire safety tests without the use of large amounts of chemical flame retardants.

A typical UK sofa contains around 2kg of these toxic substances.

Dilke has repeatedly called for reform, arguing that current standards pose a hidden health risk, especially to young children and pets who come into close contact with treated materials.

The World Health Organization announced last month in the journal Lancet Oncology that TCPP, the most common flame retardant on sofas in the UK, was ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’.

Scientists and campaigners have also warned that these chemicals do not remain locked inside furniture.

Instead, they can be mixed into household dust and inhaled or swallowed; research suggests that young children are particularly vulnerable due to their closer contact with floors and soft furnishings.

The U-turn policy followed a lengthy campaign by Delyth Fetherston-Dilke (pictured), a former solicitor from Richmond, south-west London, who uncovered the issue after retraining as an upholsterer.

Authorities now say they will replace the open flame test with a ‘burn test’ that more closely reflects real-life fire risks, such as a lit cigarette, the Sunday Times reports.

The aim of the change is to maintain fire safety standards while significantly reducing reliance on chemical processes.

The government has acknowledged growing evidence linking flame retardants to a range of health problems, including cancer, neurotoxicity, developmental problems and hormone disorders.

There are also fears that the chemicals will increase the toxicity of smoke during a fire and make recycling furniture much more difficult.

The U-turn policy followed a long campaign by Ms Fetherston-Dilke, a former solicitor from Richmond, south-west London, who uncovered the issue after retraining as an upholsterer.

While studying furniture making, he found extensive scientific research suggesting that chemicals designed to slow fires could be harmful to humans and animals.

He has argued for years that Britain’s rules expose households to unnecessary risks without clear evidence that they save lives.

His concerns were reflected by the fact that major retailers produce different versions of sofas for different markets and that flame retardants are added to those sold only in the UK and Ireland.

The regulations date back to reforms introduced in the late 20th century following a series of deadly fires, including a Woolworths store in Manchester that killed 10 people.

But critics say the rules remain largely unchanged despite evolving evidence about their health effects.

Warnings are not new. As recently as 2017, experts were sounding the alarm about a possible link between flame retardants and increased cancer rates.

Former government adviser Terry Edge claimed at the time that the chemicals could contribute to thousands of diseases, especially in children.

A separate study from Duke University found higher levels of certain flame retardants in the blood and homes of thyroid cancer patients.

Although some of the most dangerous compounds have since been banned, they persist in old furniture and continue to circulate in household dust.

Ministers will now consult on the proposed changes and campaigners will hail the decision as a major breakthrough after years of inaction.

Ms Fetherston-Dilke said the change was a turning point after more than a decade of pressure to bring Britain into line with international standards while better protecting public health.