Toxic Hot Seat

An exposé on the toxic health effects of flame retardant chemicals which are found in almost all furniture in the United States, exploring the history of the chemicals, and the fact that the retardants are ultimately ineffective.

Chemical flame retardants are everywhere: in our furniture, our homes, even our bodies. Yet flame retardants don't seem to stop fires. They do, however, seem to make us sick. So why do we use them? To find answers to that question, Toxic Hot Seat takes an in-depth look at a nexus of money, politics and power - and a few brave citizens who are willing to stand their ground. The film follows a courageous group of firefighters, mothers, journalists, scientists, politicians and activists as they fight to expose the shadowy campaign of deception that has left a toxic legacy in America's homes and bodies for nearly 40 years. (HBO Europe)