FLAME RETARDANTS
“The average American baby is born with 10 fingers, 10 toes and the highest recorded levels of flame retardants among infants in the world.”
A study by the Silent Spring Institute found that of the 16 California homes they tested, 100% of them had measurable levels of flame retardants in them. 50% of the samples had over 41 different chemical flame retardant compounds, including brominated tris. (PMID: 23185960)
Halogenated chemicals, including chlorinated and brominated flame retardants, make a bee-line for the thyroid, and are therefore linked to thyroid disease and thyroid disruption.
Halogens (found on the periodic table) include the elements bromine, chlorine, fluorine, as well as iodine and astatine.
Those other halogens compete for iodine receptors for transport into thyroid tissue.
Blood levels of some of the most widely used flame retardants have doubled in adults every two to five years between 1970 and 2004... thyroid diseases have also increased dramatically. 🤔
Dr. Arlene Blum, one of the main researchers into flame retardant chemicals stated "When we're eating organic, we're avoiding very small amounts of pesticides. Then we sit on our couch that can contain a pound of chemicals that's from the same family as banned pesticides like DDT.”
Changing out our upholstered furniture (the primary source of exposure to these chemicals) isn't an easy task, BUT health professionals who are able to speak into this issue and provide clear, actionable steps, along with practical recommendations can help calm the fears and anxiety that this topic can bring up!
Flame retardants, chemicals in flooring, carpeting, and other furniture are all topics that I teach about inside my Certificate Course in Environmental Health...
Enrollment for this course is currently open, but only for another few weeks! Head to the link in my bio (@environmentaltoxinsnerd) to check it out!
Tag a health professional who works with hormone/thyroid issues in their practice!! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
*opening quote is from an article in the Playing With Fire series by the @chicagotribune
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