Articles and organisations
There are so many articles available about the negative impact of fire retardant chemicals on human health and the environment. A simple google search will bring up a whole host of articles, many of which focus on the US legal battles with the chemical companies.
Below is a selection for an overview:
US based articles and organisations
Please note that in the UK the amount of Flame Retardants used in mattress manufacturing is FAR greater than those used in the US, as it is also in the mattresses filling materials (not just the cover).
| Levels and distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in humans and environmental compartments: a comprehensive review of the last five years of research | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31933075 |
| Flame Retardants. What to know about chemicals in furniture. | https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/24/flame-retardants-everyday-products-toxics-guide |
| California Law Changes Sparks Nationwide Demand for Flame-Retardant- Free Furniture. The Guardian. 30 September 2014 | http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2014/sep/30/healthcare-flame-retardants-gb117-california-steelcase-knoll-herman-miller-kaiser |
| No Escape. Tests Find Toxic Fire Retardants in Mothers – and Even More in Toddlers. Environmental Working Group. August 2014. | http://static.ewg.org/reports/2014/flame_retardant/pdf/flame_retardants.pdf?_ga=1.176916898.604991974.1421145332 |
| Science and Policy Update July 2014: Toxics. Your Right to Choose Toxic Free Furniture. Physicians For Social Responsibility –Los Angeles. | http://www.psr-la.org/science-policy-update-july-2014-toxics/ |
| What you don’t know about Flame Retardant Chemicals can Hurt You in More Than One Way. July 2014 | http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/07/19/flame-retardant-toxic-hot-seat-documentary.aspx |
| Trending Topics: Series of 6 articles focusing on Fire Retardant Chemicals June 2010. | http://www.bizngo.org/news/article/trending-topics-10-6-2014 |
| Coke to Remove Flame-Retardant Chemical From All Its Drinks. May 2014 | http://www.newsweek.com/coke-remove-flame-retardant-chemical-all-its-drinks-249616 |
| Flame retardants during pregnancy as bad as lead? Exposure linked to lower IQs in kids May 2014 | http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140528105258.htm |
| Cancer linked Flame Retardant Eased out of Furniture (US) Dec 2013 | http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/cancer-linked-flame/ |
| Chemical Classes of Concern. 3. Brominated, Chlorinated and Phosphate-Containing Flame Retardants. Six Classes.org | http://www.sixclasses.org/flame-retardants/ http://www.sixclasses.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/FR-fact-sheet.pdf |
| US National Library for Medicine – Halogenated flame retardants: do the fire safety benefits justify the risks? Oct-Dec 2010 | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21268442 |
| National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Report Calls Flame Retardant Concern to the US Coastal Ecosystems 2009. | http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090401_ecosystems.html |
| US National Library for Medicine – Environmental Impact of Flame Retardants. Feb 2009 | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2672362/ |
| US National Library for Medicine – New Thinking on Flame Retardants 2008 | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2367656/ |
Recent UK newspaper/e- articles:
Videos
| Environmental Audit – Mary Creage MP. See videos attached to link | https://www.newsarchyuk.com/britons-exposed-to-toxic-chemicals-from-birth-says-mp-environment/ |
| Dr Arlene Blum’s Six Classes webinar on Flame Retardants | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJqMgKJbyu8#t=16 |
| Is your Sofa Treated With Toxic Chemicals? | https://safefurniture.eu/ |
Interesting related organisations, websites and articles
| Organisation / Website | Overview | Info |
| Green Science Policy Institutehttp://greensciencepolicy.org/topics/flame-retardants/ | Selected Bibliography: Furniture Flame Retardants and Environment: June 2013http://greensciencepolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Bibliography-FRs-and-environment.pdf Selected Bibliography: Furniture Flame Retardants, Toxicity and Health: June 2013http://greensciencepolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Bibliography-FRs-and-health.pdf Flame Retardant Toolkithttp://greensciencepolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/References-formatted.pdfIt All Comes Out In The Washhttp://greensciencepolicy.org/it-all-comes-out-in-the-wash/ | A good overview of recent fire retardant chemical research focusing on environmental and health related issues. |
| Alliance for Cancer Prevention UKhttp://allianceforcancerprevention.org.uk/ | Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are chemicals which can affect our Endocrine System (the bodies messenger system) and other bodily functions, which co-ordinates reproduction, development, growth, mood, and what happens in our cells to help our bodies and organs function normally.Current risk factors for cancer include: tobacco, diet and obesity, infections, radiation (both ionizing and non-ionizing, up to 10%), stress, lack of physical activity, hereditary genes, physical agents, chemicals, and hormones.Environmental and occupational risk factors are potential risk factors from exposure to certain chemicals, substances, or particles (either occupational or environmental) and absorbed in utero (pre birth) or through breathing, touching, and eating, which contribute to a cancer outcome by nature of their carcinogenic, mutagenic or endocrine disrupting abilities. | ‘Some 800 chemicals are known or suspected of interfering with our hormones. Yet only a small fraction of these chemicals have been tested. We are exposed to EDCs through everyday contact in our workplaces or homes to certain plastic products, cosmetics, furniture, computers, toys, construction materials and other products, materials and goods. We are exposed through the food we eat, the water we drink and the very air we breathe. EDCs may also be by-products formed during manufacture or use of products or through the disposal and combustion of waste.’http://allianceforcancerprevention.org.uk/#!/press-release-whounep-strongly-endorse-need-to-regulate-as-endocrine-disrupting-chemicals-edcs-identified-as-global-threat/ |
| Chemicals Health Monitorhttp://www.chemicalshealthmonitor.org/ | Launched by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) in 2007, the Chemicals Health Monitor (CHM) aims to improve public health by encouraging more protective regulations of hazardous chemicals in Europe and beyond. All of us are exposed to many chemicals every day without authorities, manufacturers, scientists, or the public, in other words the entire system that permits and uses them, knowing about what they do to us. This current chemicals experiment means people and their families may be more prone to obesity and diabetes, more likely to suffer from cancer or to face infertility. Most are unwitting subjects in this experiment whilst healthcare systems struggle to cope with rising disease rates. This experiment also establishes a toxic legacy for future generations. HEAL’s goal is the protection of the environment and human health and well-being from toxic chemicals, through precautionary action to end use of toxic chemicals. | |
| Endocrine Society | Introduction to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals – A Guide for Public Interest Organisations and Policy-Makers. Endocrine Society. December 2014. http://ipen.org/sites/default/files/documents/ipen-intro-edc-v1_8a_web.pdf | |
| World Wildlife Fund | Chemical Contamination Revealed by UK Blood Testing. Nov 2003http://www.worldwildlife.org/press-releases/chemical-contamination-revealed-by-uk-blood-testing | |
| Friends of the Earth | Poisoning Our Children. The Dangers of Exposure to Untested and Toxic Chemicals. (Particularly page 5&6) http://www.foe.co.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/poisoning_our_children.pdf |
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