World Office Chair vs West Elm Humanscale World LM Task Chair: which is safer?

Humanscale World Office Chair is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Our pick

Humanscale World Office Chair

Humanscale

World Office Chair

PFAS grade

C 75/100

Overall grade

D 67/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

Steel, aluminum, plastic (polyurethane foam), fabric upholstery

Confidence

72%

PossiblePolyurethane foam off-gassing (VOCs)

PossibleMicroplastics from foam or synthetic upholstery wear

West Elm Humanscale World LM Task Chair

Humanscale

West Elm Humanscale World LM Task Chair

PFAS grade

C 75/100

Overall grade

F 63/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

aluminum frame, foam cushioning, mesh/upholstery fabric

Confidence

65%

PossibleFormaldehyde in fabric finishes and dyes

PossibleAzo dyes and other dye-related allergens

PossibleFabric antimicrobial or water-repellent treatment (undisclosed)

Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More office chairs: see the full ranking