Watch out in Warm Weather Warning to Leather Sofa owners

Lawson-West, solicitors, are acting on behalf of a number of people who have suffered skin allergies, eczema type rashes, burns, sores and blisters caused by sachets of anti-mould agents in the leather sofas. The anti-mould agent causing the problems is di-methyl fumarate (DMF). In tests DMF was found to cause skin irritations within 2 – 4 days. The sachets had been placed inside the sofas to prevent mould.

DMF turns from a liquid to a gas when heated. As a gas, it can escape from the sachet and becomes absorbed by the leather covering. When people sit on the sofas, they come into contact with DMF which causes skin reactions such as rashes, sores, blisters and burns.

If you have bought a leather sofa in the last three to five years, please be vigilant in the warm weather as a sofa being left in direct sunlight from a window is sufficient to heat up the DMF and make it convert from a liquid to a gas. If anyone suffers a rash, blisters, sores or burns after coming into contact with a sofa, please seek medical advice.

Anyone who has suffered severe allergies, blisters, sores and burning is entitled to compensation for their injuries. Lawson-West, solicitors, can provide expert help and would be happy to advise you on this matter, even if you are not based in Leicestershire. Please call Vickki Ridgway or Saira Roper on 0116 212 1000 for further information. We have an out of office hours telephone service.