In May 2008, the BBC Watchdog program alerted viewers that several people were reporting itching, blisters, burns and rashes after purchasing imported Chinese leather sofas.
The reason: Chinese manufacturer Linkwise had used envelopes containing the chemical dimethyl fumarate (DMF) to prevent mold from growing on their leather sofas during transport and storage.
Unfortunately, the chemical, which is sometimes used as a fungicide, caused severe allergic reactions in some people using the sofas.
Tests have shown that DMF can cause severe eczema, a term that refers to a variety of skin conditions that are difficult to treat. Allergic reactions occur when the substance is heated.
Consulting dermatologist Dr. Sandra Winhoven explained the condition at the time: ‘The substance that is causing the outbreak of sofa dermatitis is a fungicide, and this fungicide has a very low vapor point. So when it warms up, it releases more. ” As a result, the summer months caused a greater number of allergic reactions.
Eczema symptoms
Eczema, which is sometimes referred to as dermatitis, can refer to a variety of unpleasant and distressing symptoms including itching, blisters, redness, swelling, dryness, crusting, peeling, cracking, oozing, and bleeding of the skin. These symptoms can be very damaging to a person’s quality of life, and as a result, some of the people suffering from a sofa rash reported symptoms of depression.
With up to 50,000 households sold a contaminated sofa and many people suffering increasingly severe reactions, patients were often unaware that the reaction they were experiencing was related to their sofa.
Some patients even unintentionally aggravated their injuries by staying home to recover from their symptoms, thus further increasing their contact with the problematic couch.
How the stores reacted
The sofas were sold by Argos, Land of Leather, and Walmsley Furnishing. After learning about the problem with their sofas, the stores that sell them responded in different ways. According to a Daily Mail report on June 21, 2008, Argos, which had sold the most contaminated sofas, removed the sofas from its stores and notified buyers, contacting them to arrange pick-up of the products.
Land of Leather, meanwhile, recalled the sofas but was criticized for not notifying buyers, while Walmsley said they had removed the envelopes from the sofas they sold after learning of the problem, though they also failed to recall the sofas that had already been sold. . as Argos had done.
Claim compensation for the sofa eruption
In the UK’s largest consumer injury claim, thousands claimed compensation against the stores where they bought their couches. Compensation is expected to total up to £ 10 million for this initial class action.
Along with the thousands already claiming compensation, it is estimated that tens of thousands may have suffered or continue to suffer burns that have not yet been linked to their sofas. These cases could lead to new claims for compensation.
If you have been affected by a “toxic” sofa and have experienced skin problems as a result, you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injuries and money lost due to absence from work.
