A chemical added into furniture shipments from China to prevent the growth of mold has been linked to severe rashes. The chemical, dimethyl fumarate (DMF), can penetrate the fabric and subsequently clothing when a person sits on the furniture and cause contact dermatitis. Dimethyl fumarate is the methyl ester of fumaric acid.
The first five cases were reported in Europe in 2008. Since then, there have been more than 1,000 cases.
References:
Chemical in Furniture Linked to Skin Rashes. WebMD.
References:
Chemical in Furniture Linked to Skin Rashes. WebMD.
Image source: Dimethyl fumarate. Wikipedia,public domain.