The Dangers Of Flame Retardant Materials

Have you ever thought of how many everyday products you use or own in your home that contain toxic flame retardants? More than likely probably not, but you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not looking into it. It's never too late to get educated and informed on what things you should avoid for your health, especially when it's daily items you use that can unknowingly put your health at risk. 

Since the 1970s, flame retardants have been used in products to lessen the chance of a fire igniting within it. Most people are not aware, but flame retardants are extremely harmful to your health, and this is an issue considering they can generally be found in food, furniture, electronics, baby products, and more, according to Safer States. Human beings definitely shouldn't be around or consuming toxic flame retardants altogether for obvious health reasons, but most don't know how severe the damage to your health can be, which is why it's important to have access to direct information.

Flame retardants are toxic chemicals that are added to everyday items to prevent a fire from being able to start within the product. Although the intention is to prevent harmful damage, they can have extremely negative effects on your health over time. Many manufacturers knowingly add flame retardants to products, even knowing they're no longer needed and the damage that can be done to one's health. People can be exposed to flame retardants in a number of ways, including diet, air, dust, and water, according to the NIH. 

Flame retardant materials include cars, trains, buildings, air fresheners, mothballs, televisions, phones, computers, wires and cables, cleaning solutions, gas space heaters, toilet bowl cleaners, extension cords, antibacterial soap, and chipped off paint. The health effects of flame retardants include cancer, negative impact to immune system, endocrine as well as thyroid dysfunction, reproductive toxicity, and harmful effects on fetal as well as child development, according to NIH.

Even though flame retardants have been taken off the market and are not used by many manufacturers today, you would think that flame retardants would stop being used altogether. They're no longer needed, don't operate well, and are highly not recommended due to its severely toxic chemicals as well as severe health effects, yet manufacturers still use flame retardants. Kids are the most vulnerable, yet firefighters are the most affected. Kids expose themselves to these harmful chemicals all the time because they like to explore with their mouths and hands carelessly, according to Safer States. Keep in mind that their brain and immune systems are still developing, which makes them extremely fragile to these extreme toxins.

According to NIH, it was discovered through research that kids actually have a higher amount of toxins from flame retardants than adults, which is crazy if you think about it. Although everyone can suffer from them, firefighters are generally the most affected because they are exposed to flame retardants more than anyone, according to Safer States. Firefighters are heavily exposed to flame retardants all the time because of the job they do. According to Safer States, cancer caused by chemical exposure because of the job is the main killer of firefighters.