A recent research study on the safety of a toxic flame retardant uncovered some unsettling news. Researchers found that Americans can show signs of chemicals known as tris-(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEPs) in their bodies. The researchers tested urine samples from people who lived in California. The study found six kinds of flame retardants in the urine samples. TCEPs have never been seen in Americans before this study.
This study was published on November 12 in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
These chemicals might be in furniture pieces such as couches. Scientists believe that people can absorb these chemicals into their bodies by coming into contact with furniture that has been treated with the chemicals.
Robin Dodson, the lead author of this study, said that although some of these chemicals are already slated to be phased out of production, some of the chemicals this study tested escaped notice by chemical regulators.
75 percent of people studied tested positive for TCEP, which is known to be carcinogenic, and can damage the nervous system and reproductive system.
Most of the participants also tested positive for TDCPP, which is also a carcinogen.
"This study provides more evidence that our homes are a primary source of exposure to toxic flame retardants," said Julia Brody, PhD, who is the Executive Director at Silent Spring Institute.
Earlier this year, the state of California revised its rules on selling furniture with toxic flame retardants, meaning that people living in California can soon buy furniture that is chemical-free. The regulation will go into effect in January 2015. The regulation is the result of persistent lobbying from Californian citizen, as well as organizations such as the NRDC, which began in 2013. NRDC's website calls the use of flame retardants in furniture a "stupid use of a chemical," because they do not actually prevent common household fires such as those caused by smoldering cigarettes. Instead of protecting people from fire, adding flame retardants to furniture only exposes people to unnecessary toxicity in their homes.
Scientists have documented the risks of putting these flame retardants in furniture, including high levels of these chemicals found in the bodies of children.
The NRDC has a guide to buying furniture that is free of flame retardants.
