Flame retardants are chemicals additives applied to furniture, electronics, and other manufactured items to prevent or slow the growth of fires. The chemicals are present in many consumer goods used for toddlers, such as crib mattresses, nursing pillows, strollers, and car seats (Krisch, 2019). Flame retardants were first introduced over thirty years ago to furnishings, electronics, construction materials, and transportation products in response to a new law in California. The legislation that introduced flame retardants was to inhibit flammability in common household items (Oregon State University, 2017). In 1975, California introduced the Technical Bulletin 117 that required manufacturers to add flame retardants to products to ensure they passed the open-flame test. The retardants that were introduced with minimal health testing are rapidly building up in our bodies (Madsen et al., 2003). Shortly after their introduction to consumer products, there were concerns about the effects of the chemicals on human health. Retardants that were deemed safer alternatives, such as the polybrominated biphenyls, were introduced in the early 1980s. Despite most of them being withdrawn from the market, they remain a persistent hazard as they remain in the environment years after their use.
Flame retardant consists of several chemicals with different chemistries which are combined for effectiveness. Most of the chemicals used to manufacture them have adverse effects on animals and human beings. Different types of flame retardants are classified depending on their chemical structure and properties (Krisch, 2019). They include:
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Brominated flame retardants. These types of retardants manufactured using bromine are the most popular. They are present in most consumer goods such as electronics and furniture. Some studies have associated brominated retardants to endocrine disruption in the human body.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). PBDEs are easily released from their products to the air and dust since they are not chemically bound to the consumer products. They have been found to affect expectant women and fetuses, leading to low infant weight and poor neurological development.
Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA). TBBPA is mainly used in electronics, computer circuit boards, textiles, and paper.
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD). This retardant mainly added to polystyrene foam building materials causes harm due to the ease of leaching out of products.
Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs);
Flame retardants are a significant human health concern due to their abundance in the environment and their endocrine disrupting characteristics. The retardants can get into the air, water, and soil during their manufacture or leak from the consumer products they have been applied on. The chemicals then bioaccumulate over time in the human bodies and animals. They have a major impact on the health of children who are easily exposed to them through hand-to-mouth contact (Hussain et al., 2019). Polybrominated diphenyl disrupts the endocrine function and inhibits the optimal production of aldosterone and estrogen receptors. Several research studies have linked flame retardants to thyroid disorders, poor neurodevelopment, and reduced infertility in both men and women. Research studies have found PBDEs to have neurotoxic impacts caused by their chemical properties like organo halogenated mixtures (Hussain et al., 2019). Fetuses exposed to PBDEs have displayed poor cognitive development after being born. Tetrabromobisphenol has been found to interfere with hormone production, neurobiological functions, and the reproductive system. Hexabromocyclododecane causes irreparable damage to the thyroid gland and the liver. The retardants have also been associated with high levels of atopic dermatitis, eczema, asthma, and allergies in children (Krisch, 2019). Flame retardants are a primary environmental health concern as even the safer alternatives have been found to have adverse health effects on both animals and human beings.
Children are the most vulnerable population since their immune systems and organs are still developing. Toddlers are at high risk of exposure due to their relatively high exposed total body surface and higher respiratory rates than adults. In addition, toddlers have behavioral characteristics that increasing their risk of exposure, such as crawling on the floor. Children ingest some of the chemical ingredients of flame retardants when they touch some of the household items, and put their fingers in the mouth. Children are particularly vulnerable when they go through stages of rapid growth and development. Several research studies have found the chemicals to have unintended developmental consequences for young children. The retardants have been associated with stunted child development and interfering with the reproductive systems. Researchers from Oregon State University discovered that flame retardants significantly affected social behaviors in children (Oregon State University, 2017). Children with high retardant exposure levels exhibited higher externalizing behaviors such as defiance, inattention, aggression, and bullying (Lipscomb et al., 2017). Children highly exposed to flame retardants were found to have impaired learning behaviors in laboratory experiments (Madsen et al., 2003). Exposure in children occurs through the ingestion of contaminated breast milk and dermal absorption (Sugeng et al., 2017). It has also been proven that children’s bodies contain higher levels of flame retardants than adults. According to Hussain (2019), toddlers are 3 to 4 times most likely to be exposed to flame retardants than adults. Another study tested 334 mother-child pairs for a flame retardant chemical discovered PBDE in every child tested. It is evident that flame retardants are health risks for children.
Due to their adverse health concerns and the fact that most retardants are associated with several health risks, children are highly exposed to the chemicals from the built environment. Further studies are needed to develop guidance for taking regulatory action to protect children’s health and other populations affected by the retardants. Investigating health effects and potential hazards will ensure that the environmental health concerns of flame retardants are discovered. An understanding of the health risks of flame retardants will help create a healthy environment for children.
References
Bell, D., Dady, J., Greene, C., Scher, D., & Schubat, P. (2015). Flame retardants and firefighter exposure and health . Minnesota Department of Health. https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/risk/docs/studies/retardantreport.pdf
Hussain, M. S., Yaseen, M., & Hussain, S. M. (2019). Effects of flame retardants on vital organs of body. SSRN Electronic Journal . https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3375231
Krisch, J. A. (2019, April 29). Flame retardant chemicals are a scam. They don’t work and they hurt kids . Fatherly. https://www.fatherly.com/health-science/flame-retardants-pbde-dangerous-for-kids/
Lipscomb, S. T., McClelland, M. M., MacDonald, M., Cardenas, A., Anderson, K. A., & Kile, M. L. (2017). Cross-sectional study of social behaviors in preschool children and exposure to flame retardants. Environmental Health , 16 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-017-0224-6
Madsen, T., Lee, S., & Olle, T. (2003). Growing threats: Toxic flame retardants and children’s health. California Research and Policy Center . https://www.ldisolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/Growing_Threats.pdf
Oregon State University. (2017, 15). Flame retardant chemicals may affect social behavior in young children . ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170309141306.htm
Sugeng, E., de Cock, M., Schoonmade, L., & van de Bor, M. (2017). Toddler exposure to flame retardant chemicals: Magnitude, health concern and potential risk- or protective factors of exposure: Observational studies summarized in a systematic review. Chemosphere , 184 , 820-831. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.06.041
