Californians have twice national average of flame retardants in their blood

A new study has found that Californians are exposed to much higher level of toxic fire retardant chemicals than people living in the other 49 states and beyond.

The study, which was published by Environmental Science & Technology and conducted by the Silent Springs Institute, raises serious concerns for the health of Californians. Research found double the amount of the flame retardant chemicals penta-BDEs in the blood of California residents compared to the national average. Studies on animals have shown PBDEs are linked to cancer, thyroid abnormalities and endocrine disruption. The chemicals were also shown to affect brain development, which is of particular concern since toddlers have the highest levels of PBDEs in households.

These chemicals are put in household products like mattresses, couches and electronics. The chemicals can leach out and mingle with household dust, when people then easily ingest it. The study found flame retardant chemicals in the dust of California households at a rate of four to 10 times higher than national averages and 200 times higher than in Europe.

“If you live in California, you are at far greater risk of exposure to toxic penta-BDE flame retardants than if you live anywhere else in the country or the world,” says lead author Dr. Ami Zota, a scientist at the Silent Spring Institute. “These chemicals enter the body when people breathe or ingest contaminated house dust, which is why California residents have double the amount of the chemical in their bloodstreams compared to the national average. The health effects are particularly concerning for babies, children, and pregnant women.”

These high exposure rates are attributed to a California flammability standard, which requires furniture to be fire resistant to an open flame for 12 seconds. California’s legislature is currently considering expanding these standards to apply to bed covers – a change that would introduce even more flame retardants into Californian homes.