PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers)
Toxins · Flame retardant
Moderate priority
What this is
California TB117 furniture flammability standard drove huge US PBDE use 1975-2013. Body burdens in Americans were 10x Europeans before phase-out. Household dust is the major continued exposure route. Replacement chemicals have 'regrettable substitution' concerns.
Mechanism
Brominated flame retardants added to furniture foam, electronics, textiles; chemically similar to PCBs; endocrine disruptors, neurodevelopmental toxicants; largely phased out of new products since 2004-2013
Dose & route
Damp-dust; HEPA vacuum; avoid pre-2014 furniture foam; wash hands before eating
Citations
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28472688/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18414642/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5407328/
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