Scientists from EWG and Duke University just released a groundbreaking study that found a biomarker of the cancer-causing fire retardant TDCIPP in the bodies of all 22 mothers and 26 children tested.
Compared to their mothers, the children exhibited on average nearly five times the level of this biomarker. In the most extreme case, a child had 23 times the level measured in the mother.
The frightening reality is that many of us
are unknowingly exposing ourselves and our families to toxic chemicals
in everyday home goods. TDCIPP and/or other hazardous fire
retardants are commonly found in furniture, nap mats, changing table
pads, nursing pillows and other consumer products. While we are starting
to see a shift in the market because of state-level regulations, that
progress would be halted if poorly designed new national standards were
announced. We need to tell the Consumer Product Safety Commission to protect our health and our families’ health right now.
In the EWG-Duke study, biomarkers of three
chemical components of a fire retardant mixture called Firemaster® 550
were detected in the urine of most children tested. The long-term
effects on human exposure to this mixture are unknown, but animal
testing has shown it can disrupt hormones and systems critical to growth, metabolism and sexual development.
Because of flawed state and federal
regulations that have allowed toxic chemicals to enter the market and
our homes, fire retardants are nearly impossible to avoid completely.
That’s why EWG is working hard to create a future in which American
families are not exposed daily to these potentially harmful chemicals.
But we need you to stand up for your health and your family’s health by signing our petition right now.
Thank you for standing with EWG on this critical issue.
Sincerely,
Ken Cook
President, Environmental Working Group
Ken Cook
President, Environmental Working Group
