The Fire Retardant Dilemma

摘要

Although smoking and fire deaths are rapidly decreasing in the united States (7), proposed new flammability regulations could add tens of millions of additional pounds of potentially toxic fire-retardant chemicals to bed clothing, pillows, and foam within upholstered furniture (2). In the 1970s, the flame retardants brominated tris [tris (2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate] and chlorinated tris [tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate] were removed from use in children's sleepwear after being found to be mutagens (3,4) that could be absorbed into children's bodies (5). They are also probable human carcinogens (6, 7). Today, chlorinated tris is the second most used fire retardant in furniture, found in amounts up to 5% of the foam's weight. How did this happen?