[doc30]

Does anyone ever bother to do a risk assesment on stuff like this? How many people will be burned to death in fires that could have been limited, or prevented, from the use of flame retardants? Before these were on the market, bedding, pajamas, mattresses and upholsery could be set alight easily and could become bonefires in seconds. Are we to go back to that because of a alleged link to ADHD? After all, the studies were done on lab animals, not humans.

[humblegunner]

Thread with the word "retardants" used many times ping.

[sittnick]

Does anyone ever bother to do a risk assesment on stuff like this? How many people will be burned to death in fires that could have been limited, or prevented, from the use of flame retardants?

The articles claimed these products were developed in the '80s. I recall flame retardant (non-asbestos) materials in the '70's. Were they so ineffective?

On the other hand, I can't help but recall the "environmentally friendly" tiles that were instrumental in the recent space shuttle disaster.

[MARKUSPRIME]

They are imbeciles.

[Lorianne]

They put that stuff in all children's sleepwear, plus the sleepwear is made of polyester. Yuck
I had to make my daughter's sleepwear out of plain cotton because I didn't like all that stuff.

[Tirian]

Points of info -- I first heard about this 4 years ago. One reason for concern is the fact the PBDE's are showing up in mother's milk in steadily increasing concentrations. Your sofa cushions can be up to 30% PBDE by weight, so there are massive amounts of this stuff out there. The concern is the way that cushions age and break down over time (that yellow powder you end up vacuuming up from your sofa), reaching a size that can be inhaled as dust - not an exposure route that people originally planned on. From what I understand, risk assessments are under way (and it's not all PBDE varieties that are being restricted).

[GovernmentShrinker]

I don't know if it's still true, but for many years at least, it was illegal in the US to sell children's sleepwear that wasn't treated with this stuff. People should have the right to make their own choices about these things, and not have to learn to sew their family's clothes from scratch.

[AZLiberty]

Kids don't spontaneously combust, and 100% cotton isn't all that flammable. Keep them away from flames -- e.g., don't smoke, don't use candles -- and the risk is negligible.