10 Environmental Toxins in Everyday Products and How to Reduce Exposure

6. Flame Retardants - The Fire Safety Chemicals with Toxic Trade-offs

Flame retardant chemicals have been extensively used in furniture, electronics, textiles, and building materials to meet fire safety standards, but many of these compounds have proven to be persistent environmental pollutants with significant health implications. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), once commonly used flame retardants, have been largely phased out due to their tendency to bioaccumulate in human tissue and their association with neurological development problems, thyroid disruption, and reproductive issues. However, replacement chemicals such as organophosphate flame retardants and newer brominated compounds may pose similar or different health risks, highlighting the ongoing challenge of balancing fire safety with chemical safety. These chemicals can migrate from products into household dust, where they are inadvertently ingested, particularly by young children who frequently put their hands in their mouths. The irony of flame retardants is that their effectiveness in preventing fires has been questioned, with some studies suggesting that they may actually increase the toxicity of fire smoke without significantly improving fire safety outcomes. To reduce exposure to flame retardants, consumers can choose furniture and products that meet fire safety standards through design and natural materials rather than chemical treatments, regularly vacuum and damp-mop to reduce dust accumulation, wash hands frequently especially before eating, and consider replacing older foam furniture and electronics that are more likely to contain legacy flame retardants.