Researchers find Chemical Flame Retardants do little to slow fire and increase dangerous smoke and fumes

By Sylvain Pedneault via Wikimedia Commons The fire safety benefit of brominated and chlorinated flame retardants is questionable because they can increase the release of carbon monoxide, toxic gases, and soot which are the cause of most fire deaths and injuries (Stec and Hull 2010). For example, in one experiment, compared to untreated foam, pentaBDE-treated foam released approximately twice the amount of smoke (833 m2/kg vs. 413 m2/kg), seven times the amount of carbon monoxide (0.13 kg/kg vs. 0.018 kg/kg), and nearly 70 times the amount of soot (0.88 kg/kg vs. 0.013 kg/kg) but only provided three additional seconds before ignition compared to untreated foam (19 seconds vs. 16 seconds) (Jayakody et al. 2000). Also, the California furniture standard, California Department of Consumer Affairs Technical Bulletin 117 (TB 117 2000) on the flammability of foam inside furniture neither protects the foam from ignition nor reduces the severity of a fire, two measures of efficacy (Babrauskas 1983; Schuhmann and Hartzell 1989; Talley 1995). In applications where chemical flame retardants are considered for use, an investigation should address whether flame retardancy is needed (i.e. breast feeding pillows do not need flame retardancy) and if so, whether appropriate fire safety benefits may be obtained from using chemicals or techniques that do not present such serious potential adverse environmental and human health consequences. In some cases, reducing the sources of ignition can prevent fires without adding potentially hazardous chemicals to consumer products .

Read more about flame retardants in the San Antonio Statement- its full of good well documented scientific info.

Toxic flame retardants found in 80% of baby products

It is truly a cruel irony that in the name of protecting babies from fire (smokers anywhere?) babies and their families are instead being subjected to toxic flame retardants. According to a leading group of researchers, flame retardants only slow fire ignition by only 3 seconds and create toxic smoke and fumes when they are burned. These laws need to be changed.

Eighty percent of baby products contain toxic or untested chemical flame retardants, according to a new study of products such as car seats, changing pads and portable cribs.One-third of products, which also included nursing pillows, contained a chemical called chlorinated tris, which was removed from children's pajamas in the 1970s because of cancer concerns, though the chemical was never banned, says a study released Wednesday in Environmental Science & Technology.

The Environmental Protection Agency has said there is a "moderate level of concern" about links between tris and cancer, developmental problems, reproductive problems and other health concerns. The Consumer Product Safety Commission also has found that tris "may pose a significant health risk," spokesman Scott Wolfson says.Another flame retardant, called TCEP, was found in 10 of the nursing pillows tested. California lists TCEP as a carcinogen....

Read the full article at USA Today

Read up on the the problems associated with flame retardants in the San Antonio Statement- its full of good well documented scientific info.

Sign the statement- help change policy!

San Antonio Statement on Brominated and Chlorinated Flame Retardants

Read the statement- its full of good well documented scientific info.

Sign the statement- help change policy!

Walmart bans toxic flame retardants through "retail regulation"

"Wal-Mart has taken an important step toward protecting children and families from exposure to toxic chemicals," said Steve Owens, assistant administrator of the EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. "EPA has long had concerns about PBDEs."

Researchers say PBDEs easily leach out of household products, ending up in dust, air, food and, eventually, human bodies. Levels of the chemicals in the environment have dramatically increased over the past 20 years, as have levels in human blood and breast milk samples, according to federal researchers.

Federal studies have shown that nearly all Americans carry the chemicals in their bodies, and young children show higher levels. A 2010 study found that children born with higher concentrations of PBDEs scored lower on tests of mental and physical development between the ages of 1 and 6...

Read the full article at the Washington Post online