Fire Retardants Found in Babies’ Umbilical Cord Blood Associated with Developmental Delays

A recent University of California, Berkeley, study examining the impact of fire retardant chemicals on the fertility of women trying to become pregnant revealed that the women who took the longest to conceive also had the highest levels of the chemicals in their blood. But study did not address the impact on the babies exposed to the same chemicals through the mother’s exposure.  A mother in America is easily exposed by simply living in a house with furniture, electronics, carpets and mattresses; in fact, the chemicals are so common and considered useful, that they are mandated by law to be use on children’s sleepwear and bedding.

While it was long thought that chemicals known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, of which PBDEs are examples, did not cross the placental-barrier and enter the bloodstream of the baby in utero, this had been found to be untrue. In fact, cord blood from newborns revealed the presence of over 200 environmental toxins, endocrine-disrupting chemicals among them, according to a study published by the Environmental Working Group last year.

Of note, the concentrations of the chemicals were higher in the babies than in the mothers, explained by the

fact that babies’ kidneys and livers, designed to filter out the chemicals, are not able to process them as well.

Studying the impact of the fire retardants found in infants’ blood, via their mothers’ body during gestation, the Columbia University Center of Children’s Environmental Health study found the results to be significant. Based on the amounts of the chemicals found in the babies’ umbilical cord blood at the time of birth, the children with the highest amount were found to regularly score lower on mental and physical development tests between the ages of 1 and 6.

Many of these compounds are still in use, though a couple of the flame resistant compounds have been outlawed in recent years. However, real danger persists in products still around that were manufactured before the ban, because as they age, they release the compounds into the air we breathe.  Also, while they have been replaced with new compounds, those have not been tested to determine if they are any safer.

Ways to decrease your kids’ exposure harmful fire retardants:

1)      When purchasing new furniture, ask if the manufacturer uses a chemical coating.

2)      Purchase pajamas with labels that say “not flame resistant, wear snug fitting” and avoid bedding that is described, on the tag or outer package, as “resin coated” or “fire retardant.” (Pajamas for infants up to size 9 months are not required to be flame retardant; size 12 months and up are, unless made form fitting.)

3)      Get rid of items known to contain the chemicals (such as kids’ pjs and other sleep items) because as they age, risk increases of inhaling the compounds as they settle into household dust.

4)      Join the MomRising Safer Chemical campaign at momrising.org/environmental health.

5)      Send a letter to your representatives through the Environmental Defense fund: edf.org/chemicalsafety

To read about the related study focusing on the impact of the chemicals on conception, check out the article, “Infertility, Delayed Conception Linked to Fire Retardants in Homes“

Articles of possible interest:

Kids with Higher Consumption of Pesticides More Likely to Have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Firefighters Fight to Rid Kids’ Sleepwear, Baby Gear, Furniture of Toxic Flame Resistant Chemicals

Fast Food, Junk Food and Obesity Subsidized by Federal Government

What is a Disposable Diaper Made of Anyway?

Sources:

http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info:doi/10.1289/ehp.0901450

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/flame-retardants-and-human-fertility

 Ellings, Amy.  “Staying Safe in a Toxic World.” Parents, August 2010