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I previously worked in the furniture industry and we always had to make sure all the "warning labels” were on the new furniture before sending it to the warehouse. To be honest, I can’t remember what they all said, but I do remember one had to say "this product does not contain formaldehyde" which was used at one time as a fire retardant. I feel certain theses warning labels were designed to helped protect the company from potential lawsuits.

            New furniture and carpet both are made of chemicals that can be harmful. When you smell the “new smell,” it is actually off gassing. The off-gassing odor in these items are from the release of volatile organic compounds VOC’s. These chemicals are used in paint, flooring and press board furniture. The VOC’s in new furniture and carpet are the 4-phenylcyclohexene (4-PCH) and styrene. These fumes usually disappear within a few days and the smell is no longer noticeable.