Health Effects of Flame Retardants (FRs)
FRs and their adverse health effects are a seemingly ubiquitous topic in scientific journals. Today we provide a snapshot in the table below of the primary health effects of widely used flame retardants. This is a summary table of a few FRs. For further information including health effects of FRs with proprietary formulations see the US EPA Design for Environment Program.
|
Health Effects |
Flame Retardants (FRs) |
||
|
Brominated Flame Retardants |
Chlorinated Flame Retardants |
Other FRs |
|
|
Persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) |
decaBDE, HBCD, octaBDE pentaDBE, TBBPA |
TCEP, TDCPP |
Firemaster 550 |
|
Endocrine disruption/hormonal effect |
PBDEs, HBCD |
TCEP, TDCPP |
Firemaster 550 (some evidence) |
|
Carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic (CMR) |
PBDEs, HBCD (potential) |
TDCPP (moderate) TCEP |
Firemaster 550 and |
|
Neurotoxicant |
PBDEs, HBCD |
TCEP, TDCPP (low) |
Firemaster 550 |
|
Obesogen |
HBCD (some evidence) |
TCPP (some evidence) |
Firemaster 550 (some evidence) |
|
Allergen/sensitizer |
PBDEs, HBCD (some evidence) |
|
|
BFR = brominated flame retardant
Sources are located below:
Links
Environment and Health Canada
Environmental Health Perspectives
Journal of Applied Toxicology
Presentations by Jennifer Schlezinger on Health and Environment.org
Presentations by Heather Stapleton on Health and Environment.org
Toxicology Letters
US EPA
US EPA's Design for Environment Program