Fire Retardant Chemicals in Children's Blood

September 2008

A new study has found that young children have high levels of potentially dangerous fire retardant chemicals in their blood. The compounds, known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), have been widely used in household products such as textiles, carpet pads, TVs, and remote controls since the 1970s.

According to the study, toddlers and preschoolers had levels of the chemicals that were approximately three times higher than their mothers'. Scientists are worried that the compounds cause brain damage in animals and may lead to hyperactivity in children. The chemicals may also affect reproductive organs and hormone systems. Children are exposed to PBDEs through breastfeeding as well as by crawling through household dust, which is often contaminated with the retardants.

The study involved 20 families and was conducted by the Environmental Working Group, which has advocated banning the chemicals for several years. Although two variants of the fire retardants, Penta and Octa, are no longer made in the United States, they can still be found in older household items. Another form, Deca, is still widely used, although some companies have phased it out, including Nokia, Sony-Eircsson, and Samsung.