Fire Retardants & Infertility

Fire retardant chemicals sound like a potential life saver, but at what price?

You may be getting toxic flame retardant chemical exposure from couch cushions, car seats, carpeting, mattresses, children’s items, electronics, yoga mats and from many other sources.

One 2015 study found nearly every dust sample collected from American homes contained the flame retardants Tris phosphate and triphenyl phosphate (TPHP). 91%of urine samples from the residents of those homes also contained metabolites from Tris phosphate and 83% had metabolites from TPHP.

Since they are so close to the dust on the floor, toddlers have been found to have levels of flame retardants that are as much as five times higher than their mother’s.

Since the widespread use of chemical flame retardants is a more recent historical phenomena, the results of a lifetime of bioaccumulation is now being realized.

A number of serious health risks have been linked to fire retardant chemicals, including:

• Infertility
• Birth defects
• Neurodevelopmental delays, reduced IQ and behavioral problems in children
• Hormone disruptions
• Cancer

Flame retardant chemicals have been identified as one of 17 “high priority” chemical groups that should be avoided to reduce breast cancer.

Besides being harmful to people, these chemicals are also poisoning your pets and wildlife too.

Choosing non-toxic alternatives is not easy, since manufacturers are not required to disclose the chemicals they use to make their products comply with fire safety regulations.

Items made with wool, organic cotton or silk, are by in large safe alternatives, since these materials are naturally flame-retardant.

According to recent research, more than 80% of women struggling with infertility had three types of organophosphate flame retardants (PFRs) in their urine.

87% had detectable levels of bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate

94% percent had diphenyl phosphate

80% had isopropylphenyl phenyl phosphate

Women with high levels of these chemicals were also about 40% less likely to conceive after a full cycle of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments, compared to those with the lowest levels.

Other studies have linked PFR exposure to lowered sperm motility in men.

The course of bioaccumulation of flame retardant chemicals starting before birth, may ultimately affect the reproductive capacity of coming generations.

Despite industry claims that these chemicals are necessary and save lives, there’s virtually no evidence to suggest they actually work as advertised. On the contrary, mounting evidence shows they only make house fires more dangerous and deadly, especially for firefighters who are repeatedly exposed to these toxic fumes.

Tests have shown the most widely used flame retardants provide no meaningful increase in escape time at all, while actually increasing the toxicity of the smoke. Ironically, these toxins are far more likely to kill you than the fire itself.

1. Identify and replace hazardous furniture and other items.

2. Take precautions when removing old carpeting.

3. Keep your home dust-free.

4. Try to purchase items that contain no fire retardant chemicals.

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