About Toxic Flame Retardants / PBDEs

on this page:
PBDEs Used on Consumer Products
Deca Breaks Down into More Toxic Forms
Health Impacts of PBDEs
PBDEs in Our Bodies
PBDEs in Wildlife & Puget Sound

PBDEs Used on Consumer Products

PBDEs (or polybrominated diphenyl ethers) are used as flame retardants on a wide-range of consumer products, including mattresses, furniture, carpet backing, and electronics (tv's, computers, and more). These toxic flame retardants persist in the environment, build up in the food chain and in our bodies, and are toxic at low levels. PBDEs are listed as a persistent bioaccumulative toxic (PBT) by the Washington State Department of Ecology.

U.S. chemical manufacturers have ceased the production of two forms of PBDEs - called penta and octa - but have not stopped making the most heavily used form - deca. Deca is used primarily in TV casings and there are concerns that it will be more widely used in mattresses and residential furniture as a result of new federal fire standards.

There are safer alternatives to PBDEs. We can have fire protection about using poisons.
more on fire safety>

Deca Breaks Down into More Toxic Forms

Contrary to industry claims, numerous studies show that deca breaks down into other forms of PBDEs, including ones found in the banned penta form. After extensive review of the literature, the Washington State Departments of Ecology and Health concluded that deca is likely to break down in the environment to more toxic and bioaccumulative forms of PBDEs.

• Deca breaks down when exposed to UV light and sunlight.
• Deca has been shown to break down on sand, sediment, soil, as well as in house dust and fish tissues.
• Bacteria, including those present in sewage treatment processes, have also been shown to break down deca.

reference list for Deca breakdown studies>

Health Impacts of PBDEs

Research in animal models have linked PBDEs to altered brain development - resulting in learning disabilities and memory impairment - and to disruption of thyroid hormone levels.

• Learning, behavior, and memory problems: Scientific evidence strongly suggests PBDEs are neurotoxic. Laboratory animals exposed to PBDEs show deficits in learning and memory. In mice, deca produced irreversible changes in brain function that actually worsened with age in adult mice.
• Thyroid problems: PBDEs affect thyroid levels in laboratory animals and in wildlife.
• Cancer risk: U.S. EPA lists deca as a possible carcinogen.
• Fertility problems: PBDEs produce changes to ovary cells and reduced sperm counts in studies in rodents.
• Birth defects: Studies in rodents also link PBDE exposure during pregnancy to increased risk of fetal bone malformations.

Most at risk are developing fetuses, infants, and young children.
Children are more exposed to PBDEs and this exposure occurs during critical developmental windows.

• In a study of a family of four, the children had much higher levels of PBDEs than adults.
• Breastfed infants have high exposure to PBDEs through their mother's breastmilk. Although it's unacceptable that PBDEs have been found in breastmilk, it's important to know that breastfeeding is still the best choice. learn more about breastfeeding >
• Researchers estimate that toddlers receive large doses of PBDEs from house dust because they spend so much time on the floor and often put their hands and toys in their mouths.

download our fact sheet on PBDEs and Your Health (192 kb pdf)

reference list for health effects of PBDEs>

PBDEs in Our Bodies

Studies have found PBDEs in our bodies and in our breastmilk. Even in the cord blood of newborn babies.

Because PBDEs are not bound into consumer products, they do not stay put. They end up in our house dust and indoor air. PBDEs are also in our food web. Studies in the U.S., Europe, and Asia have found PBDEs in fish, meat, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and infant formula.

• The Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition found PBDEs in the bodies of all 10 Washington participants in our Pollution in People study released in 2006. Levels in one participant approached those that caused reproductive harm in animal models.
  learn more>

• PBDEs were found in the cord blood of 10 of 10 newborn babies tested in a 2005 study. The Deca form was in cord blood from 3 of the 10 infants.

• A major route of exposure to PBDEs is inhalation of house dust. A 2004 analysis of toxic chemicals in house dust that included Washington state homes found PBDEs in every sample tested.

• PBDEs are likely found in the breastmilk of ALL women. Levels found in the breastmilk of women in the Northwest were 20 to 40 times higher than levels found in women in Europe and Japan. Of 40 Northwest women, 24 had deca contamination in their breastmilk.
  Although it's unacceptable that PBDEs have been found in breastmilk, it's important to know that breastfeeding is still the best choice.
  learn more about breastfeeding >

reference list for PBDEs in food and house dust/indoor air>

PBDEs in Wildlife & in Puget Sound

PBDEs are found in our wildlife, including birds, fish, seals, Orcas, polar bears, and more. The deca form has been found in polar bears, grizzly bears, and peregrine falcon eggs. PBDEs are persistent chemicals that bioaccumulate in our food web.

It is especially concerning that levels of PBDEs detected in wildlife are rapidly increasing every year.

• Levels of PBDEs in Puget Sound harbor seals have doubled every four years since 1984.
• Levels measured in Columbia River whitefish doubled in just 1.6 years.

Levels of PBDEs found in Puget Sound fish and mammals are much higher than those found in other places. Scientists believe this suggests "a Puget Sound source of PBDEs"

• Levels of PBDEs in Puget Sound Chinook salmon are much higher than levels in other Pacific Northwest salmon populations.
• Levels of PBDEs in Puget Sound resident Orcas are 2-10 times higher than levels of PBDEs in other whales around the world.
• Orcas were classified as endangered species in early 2006 due in large part to chemical contamination of their bodies and food supply. Researchers believe much of their contamination from PBDEs comes from their diet of Chinook salmon and harbor seals, both of which contain high levels of PBDEs.

download our fact sheet Toxic Flame Retardants in Puget Sound (1.7 MB pdf)

reference list for PBDEs in wildlife studies>