AUGUSTA — Maine firefighters have joined with an environmental group to urge the Legislature to pass a ban on the sale of upholstered furniture treated with chemical fire retardants.

WCSH reports that the groups are seeking to ban the sale of all new products treated with the chemicals starting next year in Maine.

When foam and upholstery treated with those chemicals burn, they give off smoke, fumes and particles that can cause cancer, the firefighters say, and they point to those furniture products as the reason for their much higher cancer rate than the general public.

The Maine DEP, however, is opposed to the bill, according to WCSH, saying it is too broad and the cost to the DEP and consumers could be significant.


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