A newly revised California law banning the use of toxic and cancer-causing flame retardants in furniture, effective January 1, is likely to usher in a “new era” for households nationwide.

However, scientists are cautious that discarded sofas, armchairs and Lazy-boys will leave a toxic legacy for years to come.

California’s new Technical Bulletin 117 removes a decades-old requirement that flame retardants be included in the filling of upholstered furniture which became the de-facto standard despite widespread documentation that the chemicals employed are linked to cancer, reproductive problems and lower IQs in children—without actually slowing fires.

Calling this move a “new era of less pervasive flame retardants in our home furnishings,” Scientific American writes:

“This is huge for the health of everybody in this country and for our environment,” said University of California, Berkeley chemist Arlene Blum, who had long-advocated for the rule change.

But, she adds, “What happens to the tens of millions of toxic sofas and chairs and baby products in this country?”