Halogenated
Flame Retardants are the mostly widely used types of flame retardants. They are
found in upholstery, carpet, insulation, cars, airplanes, and in children’s
clothing and strollers. These chemicals are highly mobile and are appearing in
household dust and food at alarming levels. A study in Boston found the product
in 96 percent of house dust samples. The amount found in the blood of Americans
has been doubling every few years for decades. In addition, the manufacture and
disposal of products containing these chemicals poses a great risk to humans
and the environment alike.
Health
Effects
Halogenated
Flame Retardants have been found to interfere with the reproductive system and
thyroid function. In addition, the products have been linked to cancer,
immunotoxicity, neurological development in children, tumors in the kidney and
thyroid glands, and poor sperm quality.
Alternatives
Halogenated flame retardants should be
eliminated completely. The role of a flame retardant is to stop the ignition of
a flammable material and to slow the spread of fire. They are effective during
the ignition of a fire. Once a fire is fully lit, the flame retardant has
little effect. New construction should focus on fire resistant construction
details and sprinkler usage. The link below provides specific ways that we can
move away from the use of these flame retardants.
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