Young children in U.S. among world’s most polluted with fire retardants

Environmental Working Group (EWG), a national non-profit organization, released a shocking investigative report that found the levels of toxic flame retardants in U.S. children 1 to 4 years of age bear the heaviest burden of flame retardant pollution in the industrialized world.  According to the report, Fire Retardants in Toddlers and Their Mothers, toddlers and pre-schoolers typically had 3 times more of the neurotoxic compounds in their blood as their mothers.

Laboratory tests found that in 19 of 20 U.S. families, concentrations of the toxic chemicals known as PBDEs were significantly higher in 1- to 4-year-old children than in their mothers. The tests found the fire retardant Deca, banned in Europe but unregulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more often and in higher amounts in U.S. children than their mothers.

“Current state and federal laws do not go far enough to protect children from dangerous toxic chemicals that harm their brains and reproductive systems. This study is absolute proof that the government must act to end the chemical contamination of children,” said Kathleen Schuler, co-director of the Healthy Legacy coalition in Minnesota.

Toxic fire retardants in everyday items like furniture, sofas, televisions and computers could expose children to concentrations exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recommended safe level. Children ingest more fire retardants and other toxins when they put their hands, toys and other objects in their mouths.

Even as the chemical industry insists Deca is safe, the European Union has banned it from use, 13 U.S. states are considering or have enacted legislative bans, and major electronics manufacturers including Nokia, Sony-Ericsson, and Samsung no longer use Deca and are phasing-out other bromine-based fire retardants.