Should I worry about flame retardants?
Avoid products that contain any flame retardant to reduce demand. As long as there is a demand for production, there will be communities that are exposed at very high levels due to geography alone.
What is the most common flame retardant?
Brominated flame retardants — Contain bromine and are the most abundantly used flame retardants. Used in many consumer goods, including electronics, furniture, building materials, etc. and have been linked to endocrine disruption among other effects.
What are the different types of flame retardants?
Categories of Flame Retardants
- Chlorinated (CFRs) and Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs) Chlorine and bromine are examples of halogenated flame retardants.
- Phosphorus flame retardants (PFRs)
- Nitrogen-based flame retardants (NFRs)
- Inorganic flame retardants and mineral compounds.
Are flame retardants banned?
Although researchers have linked numerous flame retardants to serious health effects, federal regulators never banned their use in all products.
What does flame retardant do to your body?
Flame Retardants have been shown to cause neurological damage, hormone disruption, and cancer. One of the biggest dangers of some flame retardants is that they bioaccumulate in humans, causing long-term chronic health problems as bodies contain higher and higher levels of these toxic chemicals.
Do all couches have flame retardants?
All products are labeled according to California’s flame retardant law. As of Jan. 1, 2015, all newly manufactured Crate and Barrel couches contain no chemical flame retardants.
Are all flame retardants toxic?
Despite the claims of the chemical industry, many of them are unnecessary, don’t work well, and are poisonous. Flame Retardants have been shown to cause neurological damage, hormone disruption, and cancer.
How long do flame retardants off gas?
Off-gassing takes anywhere from 72 hours to the lifetime of the product. For example, The EPA recommends that you allow off-gassing of carpets to take place in a well-ventilated environment for at least 72 hours after installation.
How can you tell if something is flame retardant?
Check for the label below, usually under the couch cushion or under the seat of the chair, to verify that the item does not contain flame retardant chemicals. It is more difficult to tell whether children’s products contain flame retardant chemicals, as no labeling about these chemicals is required.
How toxic are flame retardants?
Is flame retardant toxic to humans?
Are flame retardants safe?
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) and other chemical industry groups maintain the safety of currently manufactured flame retardants, and the ACC says that in the U.S. each year flame retardants prevent 360 deaths and 740 injuries that would have resulted from furniture fires alone.