space & energy
Avoiding fire retardants. Toxic chemical fire retardants are common in consumer products, particularly in highly flammable synthetic materials, according to the nonprofit Environmental Working Group. To keep your home safe, the organization suggests avoiding toxic fire retardants as much as possible by choosing products made from less-flammable, natural materials. What follows is some of the organization’s information about dangerous fire retardants. More at .
• Scientists have foundthat exposure to minute doses of toxic fire retardants — often known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs — at critical points in development can damage reproductive systems and cause deficits in motor skills, learning, memory and hearing.
• The PBDEs in everyday itemslike furniture, computers, televisions and other electronics migrate into the home environment and could expose children to concentrations exceeding the EPA’s recommended safe level.
• PBDEs are most commonly foundin polyurethane foam products like couches and upholstered chairs, mattresses and pads, futons, pillows, children’s car seats and carpet padding. They are also in hundreds of other everyday products, including TVs, remotes, cellphones, lighting, wiring, building materials, textiles, furniture and industrial paints.
• Newer U.S.-made foam itemsare unlikely to have PBDEs, as it is no longer made in the U.S. and cannot be imported.
• Inspect foam items.Replace anything with a ripped cover or foam that is misshapen and breaking down.
• Use a vacuumfitted with a HEPA filter. These vacuums are more efficient at trapping small particles and will likely remove more contaminants and other allergens from your home.
• Don’t reupholsterfoam furniture. Even those items without PBDEs might contain other, poorly studied fire retardants with potentially harmful effects.
• Be carefulwhen removing old carpet. The padding may contain PBDEs. Isolate your work area from the rest of your home. Clean up with a HEPA-filter vacuum and mop to pick up as many small particles as possible. Remove the scrap foam from your home and yard immediately.
• Prevent young childrenfrom touching and especially mouthing fire-retardant electronics as much as possible — especially cellphones or remotes. Wash their hands before they eat.
