News Coverage
New Study Finds High Levels of PBDEs in House Dust
Published May 17, 2004
Washington, D.C.-based "public interest watchdog" the Environmental Working Group (EWG) recently announced the release of a new report, titled "In the Dust: Toxic Fire Retardants in American Homes," which reveals that nationwide tests of house dust found "unexpectedly high" levels of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants.
According to EWG, the average levels of PBDEs in dust from nine homes was more than 4,600 parts per billion (ppb), "well above the average in any previous U.S. dust study." EWG noted that a tenth sample, which was collected in a home where products with fire retardants were recently removed, had more than 41,000 ppb of PBDEs.
EWG said its tests indicate that consumer products such as computers, televisions, furniture, carpets and drapes, rather than industrial releases, "are the most likely sources of the rapid buildup of PBDEs in people, animals and the environment."
"Our findings raise concerns that children may ingest harmful amounts of brominated fire retardants via dust, and indicate neither the pending federal phaseout or regulations enacted or under consideration in seven states go far enough," said EWG.