News Coverage
This Is the Toxic Substance You Can't Avoid
Published June 19, 2004
EXCERPT
Toxic flame retardants, which are building up at a rapid pace in people's bodies throughout the United States and Canada, are being spread by an array of store-bought foods as well as dust inside homes and offices, scientists have discovered.
Three new studies, released at an international conference this month, detected for the first time high concentrations of the flame retardants in a variety of fish, meat and fowl in the United States, including California grocery stores.
The findings, combined with other new tests that found the chemicals in household dust and on computer keyboards, have convinced environmental scientists that exposure to them is unavoidable.
Last month, the Environmental Working Group, an activist organization, reported finding the contaminants in dust in all 10 homes it sampled in nine states, including two in California. Two other environmental groups found them in dust on all 16 computer keyboards sampled in universities, government offices and in a children's museum. PBDEs apparently escape as a gas from hard plastic and polyurethane foam - especially newer computers, furniture and other products - and then adhere to dust. Spread by waterways and winds, they are ingested by plants and animals and transported thousands of miles.
For the full story, please visit the LA Times website.