Regency sofas and couches

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. Seen by a doctor or nurse

   Made Oct 20, 2015 · , sent to the company Nov 25, 2015 · , published by CPSC Dec 10, 2015

   The product, in the report: durablend café sofa and loveseat

   (10/10/2015) The consumer stated that her son was laying on the sofa cushions. The material on the cushion had split over time and the foam on the inside of the cushion was exposed. When her son got up off of the sofa, the consumer noticed a redness on the right side of his face. The redness progressed into hives. The hives spread from right side of his face to his neck and chin and he was wheezing.

   This happened for four days. The consumer gave her son allergy medicine.

   The consumer sought medical attention on 10/13.

   The consumer stated that her son had never had a reaction before so she thinks it is from the foam.

   (10/14/2015) The consumer contacted the store of purchase. She was advised that someone from the store will contact the company. She is still waiting for someone to call her.

   Dear Sir or Madam:

   The consumers are writing this letter in support of their report (referenced above) that they are respectfully submitting to the US Consumer Products Safety Commission. The consumers are reporting an allergic reaction occurring as a result of exposure to fumes and physical contact with two sofas purchased by them in 2010 from Regency Furniture (manufacturer:Ashley Industries). The registration number of the product/sofa is: ASH988035.

   The consumers purchased two pieces of furniture from Regency Furniture (manufacturer Ashley Industries) in 2010. The two pieces consist of a Dura blend sofa and a Dura Blend love seat The furniture always had a strong smell to it and the consumers assumed the smell would wear off over time. However, even after the several years of having the sofa in the house the smell still remains. Moreover, their 3 years and 11months old son has developed an allergic reaction to the sofa material and the smell. Over time the sofa began to have some cracks on it in the Dura blend material and the foam inserts from inside the sofa are visible and are exposed. When their son touched the sofa with his face or bands or when he sat on the sofa, be began to develop an allergic reaction in the form of hives and wheezing.The wheezing appears to increase when he is exposed to the smell emitting from the sofa. The hives do not happen when he touches anything else in our house. Only the sofa produces this allergic reaction.

   After extensive research in the field of allergies and immunology, the consumer has found that sometimes it can take months for someone to develop a particular allergy to a certain allergen. Even though the consumers had the sofas for some time, his allergic symptoms began to appear recently.

   On 10/10/2005 he began to develop hives after his face touched the cushions of the sofa. The hives began on his right cheek and progressed down his face to his neck and then the upper body. This has happened for 4 days, every time he came into contact with sofa and until we removed the sofa from the living room. The consumers saw their allergy specialist on October 13, 2015 and even after he took medication he still developed hives from contact on the sofa on the evening of October 13th, 2015. We removed the sofas from the living room and placed them into the basement. The hives outbreaks stopped since then.

   The consumers contacted the Regency furniture customer service. The manager they spoke to, named [REDACTED], was professional and respected the consumers’ concerns. However, there is no comfortable solution that the consumers agreed to in regards to this issue at this time.

   The consumers have removed the sofa from the living room into the basement and their son’s hives stopped. However, the consumers would like to raise awareness about this situation because there are many people/children who have sensitivities, allergies, respiratory concerns, and weak immune system. The toxins in the furniture and other products can cause allergic reaction when the immune system is overly stimulated. Many furniture items contain flame retardants, chemical ingredients, and have toxic fumes. According to an article by Dr. [REDACTED]: “the toxic chemicals are packed into couches, chairs and many other products... they have been linked to human health risks, including infertility, birth defects, lower IQ scores, behavioral problems in children as well as liver, kidney, testicular, and breast cancers...” People who are sensitive, have respiratory illnesses, asthma, cancers, low immune system, allergies can be effected by these fumes and chemicals. People need to be aware that these products can cause potential harm. However, nothing is mentioned about this in the industry or when you purchase a piece of furniture. When the consumer contacted the customer service, all they could say is that the ingredients are listed on the label inside the sofa. However, what these ingredients can do to our health - no one mentions.

   The sofa has caused an allergic reaction in the consumers’ son and the consumer wants to warn other customers to read labels, to consider their own special and unique circumstances and health concerns when shopping for any product. Regency Furniture and Ashley Industries produced and sold us a product that is of concern to their son’s health and has caused the consumers to experience significant physical and emotional discomfort due to this incident. No one should feel scared sitting on their own sofa at their own house thinking about toxins inside furniture and seeing their child covered in hives from that particular furniture product Therefore, we respectfully request a report to be filed with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Please see documents attached.

   Thank you for your time and consideration.

   Respectfully, [REDACTED]

   Model

   Item #ASH 9880035

   Serial number

   unknown

   Bought from

   Regency Furniture, Virginia

   Bought

   Dec 26, 2010

   Where

   Herndon, Virginia: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 3, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Regency, made or sold by Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Seen by Medical Professional

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources