Chiron PBDE, PBB, Flame Retardents

Fire retardants, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), are abundant in modern society - from clothing and carpets to couches and computers - they are added to a wide range of every day products in an attempt to reduce flammability or delay combustion. The name implies that they convey safety, but to the contrary they have been associated with numerous adverse and bio-accumulative health effects, including endocrine disruption, infertility, birth defects, lowered IQs, behavioral problems, and cancers. Ironically, when alight the toxic soup of burning chemicals and byproducts released, such as dioxins, furans and formaldehyde, can be more hazardous than the fire itself.

They are now not believed to provide any meaningful fire safety benefit. Additionally fire retardants persist in the environment – in water and soil – build up in wildlife, enter the food chain and are now global persistent organic pollutants (POPs) of concern. Whilst there is no longer a drive to add flame retardants in manufacturing, they are, and will for some time remain abundant in many consumer goods. Since disclosure of their use is unregulated many consumers remain unaware of their existence or the hazards they pose.