Fire Retardants and Child Safety

The Environmental Working Group, recently seen on the Today Show, recently finished the first investigation of toxic fire retardants (called Deca) in parents and their children, and found toddlers had 3 times the levels of Deca in their blood as their mothers.

That means young children in the U.S. bear the heaviest burden of flame retardant pollution in the world. Deca is a neurological and hormone disrupter, and children are more susceptible to its effects than adults.

What's a parent to do? Take these steps to protect your family:
1. Inspect foam items and replace any with ripped covers or misshapen/breaking-down foam
2. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter
3. Don't reupholster foam furniture in homes where children or pregnant women live
4. Carefully remove old carpet because the padding may contain PBDEs.
5. Have small children wash their hands frequently so they put clean hands in their mouths!