Archived press release

Brominated flame retardants contaminate blood

18 July 1999

The contaminating chemicals are polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PDBEs), a form of brominated flame retardant. They are used as flame retardant additives in many computers, TVs and household textiles. The Swedish research found that PDBEs were present in the blood of office workers who use computers, and also in hospital cleaners and workers at an electronics-dismantling plant. The highest levels were in the latter, demonstrating the role of electrical goods in the contamination.

Research has shown that low level exposure of young mice to PDBEs causes permanent disturbances in behaviour, memory and learning. PDBEs have also been shown to disrupt the thyroid hormone system, a crucial part of the development of the brain and body.Contamination of human breast milk by PDBEs is rising fast [4].

The River Tees has recently been shown to be heavily contaminated with PDBEs, downstream of a Great Lakes Chemical Company plant at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, which has manufactured PDBEs [5].

The World Health Organisation has called for these chemicals “not to be used where suitable replacements are available” [6], yet they are still in widespread use - and there is no labelling to warn consumers. Some computer companies, such as Dell, have announced that they are intending to get rid of them [7], but this is the tip of the iceberg.

Dr Michael Warhurst, Toxics Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:

“This research confirms the need for these chemicals to be replaced with safer alternatives. This should happen now where alternatives are available - the bleating of the chemical industry and their servants in the DTI must be ignored.Consumers must be given a Right to Know what chemicals are in products, but the Government must also act to get rid of nasty chemicals.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

More information about Friends of the Earth's Safe Chemicals Campaign is available from:
/camps/indpoll/suschem.htm

1. “Flame Retardant Exposure: Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Blood from Swedish Workers”,Environmental Health Perspectives 107 No. 8, August 1999, p643-648. [NB: The abstract is available free at: <http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1999/107p643-648sjodin/abstract.html>].

2. “DTI flame retardant study inflames DETR”, ENDS Report 289, Febraury 1999, p14; “Risks and benefits in the use of flame retardants in consumer products”, Department for Trade and Industry/University of Surrey Polymer Research Centre, January 1999.

3. “Sweden to ban brominated flame retardants”, ENDS Daily, 15th March 1999.

4. “Evidence mounts on risks of brominated flame retardants”, ENDS Report 283, p3-4, August 1998;“Developmental neurotoxicity of brominated flame-retardants, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and tetrabromo-bis-phenol a”, Organohalogen Compounds, 35, p375-377, 1998; “Analysis of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in human milk”, Organohalogen Compounds, 35, p387-390, 1998.

5. “UK fish, rivers heavily polluted with brominated flame retardants”, ENDS Report 291, April 1999,p7; “Polybrominated diphenylethers in sediments and biota downstream of potential sources in the UK”, Environmental Pollution, 105, p197-207, 1999.

6. “Double whammy for brominated flame retardants”, ENDS Report 290, March 1999, p7-8;“Environmental Health Criteria 205: Polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans”, World Health Organisation, Geneva, 1998.

7. “Dell poised to apply for new EC eco-label for computers”, ENDS Report 282, p30-31, July 1998.

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