For decades UK sofas have contained chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and infertility because of uniquely strict fire rules. Up to a fifth of their foam consists of a chemical not used in any other country’s sofas, but is now classed “probably carcinogenic to humans” by the World Health Organisation. So how deadly is your sofa, why is the UK an outlier and are things set to improve?

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Guest: Martina Lees, senior property reporter, The Sunday Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Edward Drummond

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Read more: Sitting comfortably? Your sofa is among the most toxic on Earth

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