In addition to reproductive effects, animal tests have found that PBDEs can alter brain development and thyroid hormones, which regulate growth and development of cells and many key bodily functions.
Scientists say the brominated flame retardants are among the most worrisome contaminants because they accumulate in animal and human tissues – including breast milk - and they persist in the environment.
Because of their widespread use in the United States, Americans are the most highly contaminated with PBDEs, carrying 20 times higher levels in their bodies than Europeans. Californians are the highest exposed, probably because manufacturers added PBDEs to polyurethane furniture cushions to meet the state’s stringent flammability rules.
Brenda Eskenazi, a UC Berkeley epidemiologist who was the study’s principal author, said exposure to the chemicals “is likely to continue for many years.”
“In our research, we have found that low-income children in California are exposed to very high levels of PBDEs, and this has us concerned about the next generation of Californians,” Eskenazi said.
Nearly every American tested contains traces of penta and octa BDE, the two formulations most widely used in furniture. California banned penta and octa in 2004, then the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency followed.
Couches, carpet pads and other products manufactured before 2005 still contain the compounds, and they leach out, contaminating dust and getting into the environment, including the food supply.
Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, said in a recent interview with Environmental Health News that she is concerned about the levels of PBDEs that remain in households and in the environment.
“There is no convincing evidence that PBDEs are declining in people or wildlife in the United States. It’s too soon...The chemicals are still getting into the environment from existing products,” she said.
Concentrations in Europeans have been decreasing. But Schecter found that they are increasing in the United States, despite the bans. "There is no reason to believe a POP [persistent organic pollutant] will quickly decrease in the environment or in people," he said.
In addition, new brominated and chlorinated flame retardants are replacing the old ones, and their potential human effects are unknown.
Some scientists wonder if the new flame retardants are just as bad as the banned ones.
"In this country, we kind of jump from the proverbial fry pan into the fire without thinking about the alternative,” Birnbaum said.
Last month, the EPA listed PBDEs as “chemicals of concern,” which means they “may present an unreasonable risk of injury to health and the environment.” That triggers a review by the EPA that may lead to regulation.
This article originally ran at Environmental Health News, a news source published by Environmental Health Sciences, a nonprofit media company.
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8 Comments
Add CommentAnd all this time I thought it was the pot making us all sterile. At least that's what my government's been telling me. Surely they wouldn't lie?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWe can always hope pot makes you sterile. The last thing we need is dopeheads reproducing.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this^^^ In our research, we have found that low-income children in California are exposed to very high levels of PBDEs, and this has us concerned about the next generation of Californians, Eskenazi said.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI would love to see research on long-term effects of heavy exposure to these and similar chemicals. Could over-exposure result in sub-fertility (as well as other problems) years later?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPBDE exposed male and female workers in factory environments? The female/male disconnect must be easily seen. Is it obvious that if a woman working in such an environment doesn't get pregnant, but her husband's mistress does, that the point is proven? Or, that women working in such conditions have a similar fertility profile as women not in such conditions? This doesn't seem like rocket science to me.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPBDEs and poly-foam mattress:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWith the increasing popularity of foam mattress material, should we be concerned with PBDE exposure. If so...is it possible to have mattress material tested, and has there been limits set for exposure.
frgough,
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIs it ok if "Dopeheads" like Carl Sagan, Richard Feynman and George W. Bush reproduce? You know, you rethuglicans are going to get trounced on your rabid Eugenics ideologies. It's already been tried and was soundly defeated by the entire world. Why on earth do Rethuglicans insist on copying the failed ideas and policies of the world's most notorious mass murderer, Adolf Hitler? It just can't be good for business...
Yet another reason why minimising chemicals is so important for fertility and overall health.
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