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Flame retardants are chemicals that manufacturers add to certain products to meet flammability standards. However, some flame retardants pose serious health risks and impacts on the environment. We work with the Washington State Department of Health, along with industry and environmental organizations, to identify and phase out flame retardants in Washington and identify safer, feasible, and available alternatives.
Not all flame retardants are the same. The potential health effects from exposure to some flame retardants include:
Cancer.
Endocrine and reproductive effects.
Neurological and developmental disorders.
Environmental concerns
Studies show that flame retardants can enter the environment from products that contain them. These chemicals can then accumulate in sediments, people, wildlife, and homes. Flame retardants have been found in:
Human bodies: Breast milk, blood, fat.
Homes: Household dust, indoor air.
Food: Beef, dairy products.
Environment: Fish, wildlife, birds, and sediments.
Why are flame retardants used?
Flame retardants are intended to slow the spread of fires and allow time for people to escape. Manufacturers add them to products in order to meet flammability standards. However, with recent changes in flammability standards, some flame retardants are no longer necessary
What products may contain flame retardants?
Flame retardants may be found in these types of products:
Products like car seats, recreational foam, electronics, tents, and insulation can contain flame retardants.
Regulations are reducing the use of the most toxic flame retardants in many products. There have also been innovations in design and green chemistry that help products meet flammability standards without the use of toxic flame retardants.
What is Ecology doing to reduce flame retardants?
There are numerous ways we are working to reduce flame retardants in Washington:
Safer Products for Washingtonconsiders flame retardants a priority chemical and is working to pass regulations to reduce these chemicals and others in consumer products.
Recently, Safer Products for Washington identified safer alternatives to classes of flame retardants used in electric and electronic enclosures and recreational polyurethane products.
This CAP was developed through a multi-program, multi-agency effort, with external stakeholders involved at each step. External advisory committees included representatives from such varied interests as business and consumer and environmental protection.
We determine the six flame retardants the Legislature tasked us and Department of Health to review should be added to the Chemicals of High Concern to Children.
2016
Washington Legislature:
Amends the Children’s Safe Products Act to ban five flame retardants from use in children’s products and residential furniture.
Directs us and Department of Health to further evaluate six flame retardants, and prepare a report with recommendations as well as stakeholder input.
2015
We release a Report to the Legislature, which added further recommendations for prohibiting flame retardants in specific products.
The chemical action plan for PBDEs is published. The CAP focuses on Deca-BDE flame retardants and recommends prohibiting their use in specific products.
2004
Manufacturers voluntarily agree to stop producing two kinds of PBDEs (Penta-BDE and Octa-BDE) by the end of 2004. Washington was the first state to ban a third kind of PBDE (Deca-BDE). Manufacturers of Deca-BDE agreed to stop producing, importing, and selling it by 2012 in the U.S.
We and the Department of Health performed an alternatives assessment to identify a safer and technically feasible alternatives that met fire safety standards.
