Flame Retardants - Green Science Policy Institute Flame retardant chemicals are added to products including cars, furniture foam, electronics, children’s products, and building insulation to meet flammability standards Unfortunately, these standards are often poor predictors of real-life fire risks and lead to the unnecessary use of these toxic chemicals
Aerial fire retardants: It’s raining red Flame retardant chemicals used in home furniture to comply with standards like the outdated Technical Bulletin 117 generally provide no meaningful improvement in fire safety In contrast, aerial fire retardant, Class A foams, and water enhancers can facilitate protection of firefighters and the public beyond the use of plain water in the right
Halogenated Flame Retardants: Do the Fire Safety Benefits Justify the . . . of flame retardant chemicals (6) Alternatives to organohalogen flame retardant chemicals include using less flammable materials, design changes, and safer chemicals To date, before evaluating their health and environmental impacts, many flame retardant chemicals have been produced and used, resulting in high levels of human exposure
Flame Retardants in Vehicles - Green Science Policy Institute The most prevalent flame retardant, TCIPP, was found in 99% of cars and is currently under study by the National Toxicology Program as a carcinogen Other flame retardants detected in the cars are known carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and or neurotoxins, and are persistent and bioaccumulate in humans
Healthier Insulation - Green Science Policy Institute Since energy efficiency is important to reduce climate change, the use of foam plastic insulation is increasing Unless flammability standards change, flame retardant use in insulation products will continue to grow similarly Building codes for many uses of foam plastic insulation should be updated to allow the choice of flame retardant-free foam
Electronics - Green Science Policy Institute Flame retardant producers have long supported new international requirements for the use of high levels of flame retardants in the outer casings of computers, TVs, and other electronics Our Institute’s efforts led to the rejection of such “candle standard” proposals in 2008, 2012, 2013, and 2014, and prevented the unnecessary use of
Map: Wildlife Polluted by Flame Retardants on Massive Scale The above health impacts are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to health harms experienced by wildlife due to the use of flame retardant chemicals in products before safety and efficacy are demonstrated Flame retardants also cause health harm in humans, including: Endocrine disruption; Neurodevelopmental effects; Decreased fertility
Flame Retardants in Furniture - Green Science Policy Institute The new standard provides for better fire safety in furniture and children’s products without the need for flame retardant chemicals In 2015 the Institute and our colleagues petitioned the U S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to ban products, including furniture, containing any organohalogen flame retardant The petition asked the
Flame Retardants in Insulation - Green Science Policy Institute Flame Retardant Name and CAS # HBCDD Hexabromo-cyclododecane CAS RN: 25637-99-4: TCPP Tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate CAS RN: 13674-84-5: Poly FR Brominated styrene butadiene copolymer Also known as BLUEEDGE, Emerald Innovation 3000, GreenCrest, and FR-122P: Use in Insulation: Older expanded and extruded (EPS and XPS) foam board insulation
Some Flame Retardants of Concern - Green Science Policy Institute This flame retardant is two molecules of TCEP bonded together, and like TCEP may harm the reproductive system and cause cancer It is used in transportation foam TTBP-TAZ (2,4,6-tris(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)-1,3,5-triazine) This chemical is often used in electronics cases and has been found in household dust