San Francisco is expected to ban the sale of upholstered furniture with flame retardant chemicals.

The ban, introduced by Supervisor Mark Farrell, would extend to online sales and also include children’s products, such as booster seats, changing pads and high chairs.

These flame retardant chemicals, which come in the form of foams, like those found in sofas, are linked to cancer and increase risks of birth defects and learning disabilities, according to studies. Small particles of the foam travel through the fabric and are released into the air. Even cats are thought to succumb to thyroid complications through exposure.

In August, Maine became the first city or state in the U.S. to enact such a ban, effective January 2019, after state representatives overturned the governor’s veto of the proposal. Supporters said they were up against powerful lobbyists from the chemical industry.

San Francisco is now expected to follow suit.

The Board of Supervisors Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee will vote Wednesday on Farrell’s legislation and, if approved, the full board will vote next week to make it law, which would also go into effect January 2019.

The law would impact the approximate 200 furniture retailers in San Francisco, of which 160 are independent shops. Seventeen other stores sell the children’s products that fall under the legislation, though the ban does not apply to second-hand resales.

There is no increase in cost to create products without the flame retardants, city officials say, and retailers would have one year to sell their inventory.

Farrell became involved in the issue when approached about a year ago by Sustainable San Francisco, a group that advocates for environmental policies.

Last week, the proposal was unanimously supported by the Small Business Commission and has support from the Department of the Environment and the San Francisco Firefighters Local 798 labor union. Firefighters experience higher rates of cancer and flame retardant toxins are found in their blood.