In May 2008, the BBC Watchdog programme alerted viewers that a number of people were reporting itches, blisters, burns and rashes after buying imported Chinese leather sofas.
The reason: sachets containing the chemical dimethyl fumarate (DMF) had been used by Chinese manufacturer Linkwise to prevent mould from growing on their leather sofas during transportation and storage.
Unfortunately, the chemical, which is sometimes used as a fungicide, led to severe allergic reactions in some people using the sofas.
Tests have shown that DMF can cause severe eczema, a term referring to a range of skin conditions which are difficult to treat. The allergic reactions occur when the substance warms up.
Consultant dermatologist Dr Sandra Winhoven explained the condition at the time: ‘The substance that’s causing the sofa dermatitis outbreak is a fungicide, and this fungicide has a very low vapour point. So when it gets warm, more of it gets released.’ As a result, the summer months led to higher numbers of allergic reactions.
Symptoms of eczema
Eczema, which is sometimes known as dermatitis, can refer to a range of unpleasant and distressing symptoms including itching, blistering, redness, swelling, dryness, crusting, flaking, cracking, oozing and bleeding of the skin. These symptoms can be very damaging to a person’s quality of life, and some of the sofa rash sufferers reported symptoms of depression as a result.
With up to 50,000 households having been sold a contaminated sofa, and many people suffering from increasingly severe reactions, sufferers were often unaware that the reaction they were experiencing was connected to their sofa.
Some sufferers even unwittingly aggravated their injuries by staying at home to recover from their symptoms, thereby further increasing their contact with the problem sofa.
How the stores reacted
The sofas were sold by Argos, Land of Leather and Walmsley Furnishing. After learning of the problem with their sofas, the shops selling them responded in different ways. According to a Daily Mail report from June 21, 2008, Argos, who had sold the most contaminated sofas, withdrew the sofas from their shops and notified buyers, contacting them to arrange collection of the products.
Land of Leather, meanwhile, withdrew the sofas but was criticised for not notifying buyers, while Walmsley said they had removed the sachets from sofas they sold after they learned of the issue, though they also did not recall the sofas which had already been sold, as Argos had done.
Claiming compensation for sofa rash
In the UK’s largest ever consumer injury claim, thousands claimed for compensation against the stores where they bought their sofas. Compensation is expected to total up to £10m for this initial class action.
Along with the thousands already claiming compensation, an estimated tens of thousands could have suffered or still be suffering from burns which have not yet been linked to their sofas. These cases could lead to further 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.
National Accident Helpline can help you make a sofa burn claim. We will put you in touch with a specialist personal injury lawyer to help you with your claim.
Filed under Health Insurance by on Sep 3rd, 2010. Comment. 
One disadvantage of living in Seattle, Washington has to do with car insurance. In this state the average car insurance rates are actually not just determined by an individual driver’s past behavior on the road, but by all drivers’ behavior. Typically insurance companies in Seattle, Washington set rates by tallying up all the insurance costs for the past year and then they divvy them up by the number of drivers on the roads. Naturally someone with a stellar driving record will still pay less than the person who seems to be an endless source of accidents, but the two factors do play into one another to determine rates.
Although there’s nothing anyone can do about the way other’s drive, there are some steps they can take to help improve their chances of getting cheap car insurance in Seattle, Washington. Some of these helpful hints include:
o Driving an older vehicle until you’ve established yourself as a good driver. Many insurance companies penalize young drivers, particularly young men. This fact added to the value of a new vehicle can equal very large insurance costs. For this reason it’s often preferable for young people to drive older vehicles until they’ve proven their ability behind the wheel.
o Not purchasing comprehensive coverage. Many motorists, particularly those not driving very many miles a year, and those driving older cars and trucks don’t need the coverage that a comprehensive policy offers. They should carefully weigh the benefit of the policy versus the cost of the premiums.
o Taking a driving course as you mature. Many older individuals face higher insurance costs because they are perceived as being high risk drivers. When someone in this age range takes a mature driving course they can often experience a drop in their car insurance rates.
Even if you receive a few high quotes when you begin your search for cheap car insurance in Seattle, Washington, don’t be discouraged. Prices can fluctuate from company to company and you are sure to find a rate you can afford that includes all the coverage you need.
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Filed under Health Insurance by on Mar 1st, 2010. Comment.