Chemicals found in household items such as non-stick cookware and flame-retardant furnishings may affect fetal brain development.
Chemicals contained in these and other common household items may affect maternal thyroid function and may lead to impaired fetal brain development, according to PhD candidate Glenys Webster, of UBC's School of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene.
Webster is leading an investigation into the effects of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), chemicals that are used as flame-retardants, and perfluroinated compounds (PFCs), used as stain or water repellents. The chemicals are found at low levels in all Canadians. They leach out of many products, can last for a long time in both indoor and outdoor environments, and accumulate in both animals and humans via dust, foods and air.
Full read here (VIA- sciencedaily) (Photo by Martin Dee).
More info About PBDE Flame Retardants here (VIA www.oregon.gov):
More info About PBDE Flame Retardants here (VIA www.oregon.gov):
- What are PBDE's and where are they found?
- Why do we use flame retardant chemicals?
- Three types of PBDE formulations
- PBDE's in the environment
- The health effects of PBDE's
- Limiting exposure to PBDE's
- Reduce PBDE's in the environment
