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People are always looking for a bargain...But at what cost?

With the constant growing need for up to date modern furniture, people are looking for a bargain. This often involves buying furniture such as a leather sofa for example, which is actually imported from abroad. Little do people know that over the past three to four years some of their leather good purchases may actually have been toxic to oneself or those close to them. So what are the signs and symptoms that are regularly coming up and are currently on the rise from the purchase of unknowingly buying such goods?

Dimethyl-fumarate or DMF is a fungicide that is used by manufacturers abroad mainly in China who intend to import leather goods into the UK. Dimethyl-fumarate itself is said to protect the goods in question from damage and damp during transport; this is achieved by placing sachets of DMF actually inside the furniture itself. However, DMF has not been used here in the UK since 1998 and is not part of the European Union in addition in January 2009 the import of products containing DMF was banned and with very good reason. Voluntary recalls of such furniture is currently under way.

Dimethyl-fumarate has caused allergic reactions in people who have come into direct contact with leather goods that have been imported, mainly the Pai and Bari range sofas brought from any one of just over fifteen retailers. Anything that is leather and imported before January 2009 has potentially been packaged with DMF. Already more than 5000 people have come forward with symptoms and at least 4000 of those people are now claiming compensation. If you feel you may have been affected you can fill in a form with any solicitors and they will get back to you as soon as possible.

Some of the symptoms you may experience if you have been exposed to DMF include, dermatitis, this includes redness, burning, cracking or the skin and even skin burns. Eczema and fatigue are also a common symptom along with eye irritation this includes stinging, redness and swelling of the eye. If you are asthmatic exposure to DMF could aggravate the condition further. Seek medical assistance if you have experienced any of the symptoms listed here and you feel your leather sofa or other leather item, a dining room chair perhaps, or a pair of shoes or boots may be the course.

The fungicide itself goes into the air at a very low temperature, therefore possibly increasing the allergies further in the summer or hot months. When people are sitting on these sofas, the heat from their bodies makes the DMF evaporate thus enabling the toxic vapour to escape. The toxic is so dangerous in large quantities that people who work with this product have to wear protective clothing.

SofaSofa is not affected by any of the above issues. We are dedicated to providing the very best for our customers. Effectively our UK manufacturing preference ensures the very best quality sofas, keeping our customers at bay from any health scare problems at all times.