In May 2008, the BBC’s Watchdog program alerted viewers that several people were reporting itching, blisters, burns and rashes after buying imported leather sofas from China.
The reason: Chinese manufacturer Linkwise had used sachets containing the chemical dimethyl fumarate (DMF) to prevent mold from growing on its leather sofas during transport and storage.
Unfortunately, the chemical, which is sometimes used as a fungicide, caused severe allergic reactions in some people who used 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.
Consultant dermatologist Dr. Sandra Winhoven explained the condition at the time: “The substance that’s causing the couch potato rash is a fungicide, and this fungicide has a very low vapor point.” So when it gets hot, more is released. As a result, the summer months caused a higher number of allergic reactions.
symptoms of eczema
Eczema, which is sometimes known as dermatitis, can refer to a variety of unpleasant and distressing symptoms including itching, blistering, redness, swelling, dryness, crusting, scaling, cracking, oozing, and bleeding of the skin. These symptoms can be very detrimental to a person’s quality of life, and as a result, some of the people who suffered from couch rash reported symptoms of depression.
With up to 50,000 households being 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 unknowingly aggravated their injuries by staying home to recover from their symptoms, further increasing their exposure to the troublesome couch.
How did the stores react?
The sofas were sold by Argos, Land of Leather, and Walmsley Furnishings. After learning of the problem with their sofas, the stores that sell them responded in different ways. According to a June 21, 2008 Daily Mail report, Argos, which had sold the most contaminated sofas, withdrew the sofas from its stores and notified buyers, contacting them to arrange collection of the products.
Meanwhile, Land of Leather recalled the sofas but was criticized for notifying buyers, while Walmsley said they had removed the baggies from the sofas they sold after learning of the problem, although they also did not recall sofas that had already been sold, as that Argus had done it.
Couch Rash Compensation Claim
In the UK’s largest consumer injury claim, thousands have sought compensation against the shops where they bought their sofas. Compensation is expected to total £10 million for this initial class action.
Along with the thousands already seeking compensation, it is estimated that tens of thousands may have suffered or are still suffering from burns not yet linked to their sofas. These cases could give rise to new claims for compensation.
If you have been affected by a ‘toxic’ sofa and experienced skin problems as a result, you could be entitled to claim compensation for your injuries and money lost due to time off work.
