Press Releases

New Flame Retardants, Old Problems: Replacement Flame Retardants Present Serious Risks

October 22, 2019

New flame retardants escaping from our TVs, other electrical and electronic products, and children’s car seats are just as toxic as the flame retardants they’re intended to replace, according to a peer-reviewed study published today in Environmental Science & Technology Letters. The authors found that the replacement chemicals, called organophosphate flame retardants, have been associated with lower IQ in children, reproductive problems, and other serious health harms.…

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Bigger Not Always Better for Toxic Chemicals: Study finds “Green” Flame Retardant Breaks Down into Possibly Harmful Products

January 9, 2019

It’s not easy being green. Kermit the Frog probably didn’t have chemistry in mind when he sang that line, but according to researchers from Germany, the phrase rings true for a purportedly “green” flame retardant. Many everyday products contain flame retardant chemicals which are often found to be toxic to humans and ecosystems. A new peer-reviewed study published today in Environmental Science & Technology, found that heat and ultraviolet light can break down a flame retardant marketed as eco-friendly into smaller, potentially harmful chemicals.…

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Newly-Discovered Pollutant Haunting Homes – Scientists Find New Member of Toxic Chemical Family Everywhere They Look

October 30, 2018

Ghosts and phantoms may not be the only invisible threats lurking in our neighborhoods this Halloween. Researchers at Indiana University have discovered a previously unidentified, potentially toxic chemical in air, water, and homes around the Great Lakes region. In a peer-reviewed article published today in Environmental Science & Technology, the researchers report that exposure to the mysterious contaminant is widespread, and may be of particular concern for toddlers.…

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Drinking Water of Millions Contaminated by Fluorinated Chemicals: Scientists Call for Action

November 14, 2017

More than six million Americans are drinking water polluted with highly fluorinated chemicals. These substances, used as stain and water repellents and in fighting aviation fires, are associated with health problems including kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, decreased sperm quality, high cholesterol, and decreased response to vaccines.…

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Dramatic Shift in Federal Policy: Pregnant Women & Children Warned Against Products with Toxic Flame Retardants

September 27, 2017

Today the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a landmark guidance in the Federal Registry recommending that consumers, especially those who are pregnant or with young children, obtain assurances from retailers that children’s products, furniture, mattresses, and electronics cases do not contain any chemical in the class of organohalogen flame retardants.…

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