Flame retardant chemicals: another furniture issue.

Some years ago the Monitor reported that Congress mandated a National Academy of Sciences (NAS) study on the possible toxicity of flame retardant chemicals that might be used to treat upholstered furniture fabrics.

The NAS study concluded that most of the proposed chemicals could be used safely and reserved judgment on others pending more study.

Among such chemicals widely used today are the brominated flame-retardants. Today, those chemicals are under attack by environmental extremists such as the Environmental Working Group (EWG). The group recently released a new study in which it claims it has found high levels of flame retardant (FR) chemicals in mother's breast milk.

EWG claims theirs is the first nationwide test for the presence of the chemicals in humans. The FR chemicals are also used to help make computers, televisions, and other products flame resistant.

Ken Cook, the president of EWG, urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to do as the European Union has done--ban brominated flame-retardants beginning next year. (5)

The National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) once claimed that computer equipment was unsafe because the outer plastic housing of inkjet printers could be ignited by exposure to a small open flame such as a candle. The NASFM strongly advocated the use of flame-retardants in the composition of the housing to reduce flammability.

The Monitor covered the story at the time, noting that even then, environmentalists were working to ban the chemicals in Europe. (6)

In September, 2001, the European Parliament approved a European Commission proposal to ban penta-BDE, octa-BDE, and deca-BDE. The Parliament acted on the claim that the FR chemicals were hazardous to health. In 1999, a Swedish Government Commission issued a study that asserted that the brominated flame-retardants are "persistent, bio-accumulative, and toxic in the aquatic environment. They show effects above all on the liver but also on thyroid hormone and affect the behavior of mice. They occur widely in the environment, in human blood and in mother's milk." (7)

In Europe, industry groups strongly opposed the bans arguing that the chemicals were necessary in fire prevention.

California has banned bromides beginning in 2008, and Massachusetts has held a hearing on the matter.

While there are alternatives to brominated flame-retardants, they are not "tried and true" as are bromides. Some say that the bromides must be used in order to affix the chemical to the backing of an upholstered furniture fabric. It will be interesting to see how these allegations about the toxicity of brominated flame-retardants affect a draft upholstered furniture flammability standard.

(5) Environmental Working Group, News Release, "Toxic Fire Retardants Found in Women's Breast Milk," Sept. 23, 2003.

(6) "State Fire Marshals Question Safety of Ink Jet Printers," CPSC Monitor, January 2001, Volume 6, Issue 1.

(7) Environmental News Service: "EU Lawmakers Vote Broad Fire Retardant Ban," Sept. 6, 2001.