These musings by the Editor in Chief of the American Chemical Society's publication, Environmental Science & Technology, are a worthy read for those interested in the interaction between science, policy, the public and consumer attitudes.
http://pubs.acs.org/...
The piece from EST's editor concerns polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), which are fire retardants that have been historically in widespread use in the manufacture of furniture, and which are a hard fought issue of consumer protection and chemical regulation. PBDEs are contained in the cushion foam and other plastics to retard combustability of those materials. However, particles containing PBDE can be shed from such foam by mechanical wearing action and material degradation.
Some PBDE compounds are ubiquitous environmental contaminants and have been found in human tissue.
More on PBDE compounds:
http://www.epa.gov/...
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/...
http://www.clu-in.org/...
PBDEs in house dust and clothes dryer lint:
http://pubs.acs.org/...