How To Reduce Fire Retardant Chemicals In Your Home

All California furniture has been required to meet an open flame flammability standard for foam since the 1980s. This standard is also followed by some national manufacturers outside California. It is primarily achieved by adding potentially toxic fire retardant chemicals (BFRs and CFRs) to the polyurethane foam inside furniture. These chemicals migrate from the furniture and are found in dust, dryer lint, pets, and people. Since there is no labeling requirement, there is no way to learn what chemicals are inside your furniture. But there are things you can do!

Here are some suggestions to minimize exposure to potentially toxic fire retardants in your home: Continue Reading »

On May 2nd, 2008, Green Science Policy will hold its fifth session on flame retardants, which will focus on chemical policy reform in California and the EU, environmental remediation, and a proposed international standard for electronics that could triple use of FRs. I have been to the previous session and was so taken by the evidence that I decided to get involved. I feel it is critical to understand the domino effect of integrating toxic chemicals into products we use or are exposed to every day. See the agenda.

The Fire Retardant Dilemma is one of these issues that have started to receive some media and public attention for their short and long-term effects on our health and the environment. As I rediscovered last Friday at the 4th Symposium on this topic, the urgency of addressing the issue of fire retardant chemicals has to do with several upcoming meetings (1) that might seal the presence of brominated and chlorinated hydrocarbons in many household and office products for the next decade (or longer) all over the US. It is also an issue that could have a pervasive effect in how we address such issues: it is not about whether we are in favor or against fire retardants but rather which ones should be used to delay or prevent the ignition of such items as bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture, TVs, VCRs, monitors, computers and so on. Continue Reading »