New Study Finds Toxic Flame Retardants in 80% of Baby Products Tested
A study of 101 products made for newborns, babies, and toddlers found that 80% of products tested contained chemical flame retardants that are considered toxic, according to a peer-reviewed study published in Environmental Science & Technology Journal. The same flame retardants found in some of the products are also found in children’s bodies and widely dispersed throughout the environment and in food.
A study of 101 products made for newborns, babies, and toddlers – including car seats, breast feeding pillows, changing pads, crib wedges, bassinet mattresses and other items made with polyurethane foam – found that 80% of products tested contained chemical flame retardants that are considered toxic, according to a peer-reviewed study published in Environmental Science & Technology Journal. Other retardants discovered had so little health and safety data on them it is not possible to know their effects at this time. The same flame retardants found in some of the products are also found in children’s bodies and widely dispersed throughout the environment and in food.
“Toxic or untested flame retardants like the ones found in this study can migrate out of products and end up in our homes and our bodies. These chemicals are associated with adverse human health effects including reduced IQ, increased time to pregnancy, endocrine and thyroid disruption, and impaired child development,” says Arlene Blum, PhD, a co-author of the study and executive director of the Green Science Policy Institute. Blum’s early research contributed to the removal of Tris flame retardants from children’s pajamas in the 1970’s. Blum says, “I was surprised to find Tris back in high levels in the foam in baby products.”
Banning dangerous flame retardants once and for all is a great first step, but research also needs to be done on safer alternatives. “Taking action to get PBDEs out of consumer products was the right thing to do, but our kids deserve better than to be exposed to replacements that may cause cancer and other health problems,” said Erika Schreder, staff scientist with the Washington Toxics Coalition. “We need laws that will make sure companies find the safest way to make products flame resistant rather than just switch to another toxic chemical."
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