Interested in the history (and future) of flame retardants in consumer products? This editorial from scientist Arlene Blum provides a brief summary.
Source: Tackling toxics | Science
Blum’s research was the catalyst for getting the first form of Tris banned from kids’ pajamas in the ’70s. Though, as she pointed out in a recent email, it came back and was found in many products about 10 years ago.
I would also like to share with you that it was ten years ago in March, 2006 that I attended the California Chemical Policy Symposium and learned that the harmful flame retardant Tris my research had helped remove from pajamas in the 1970s was back in the nation’s furniture. The last decade of working with the Green Science Policy Institute to reduce the use of such chemicals has been the biggest adventure of my life, even more challenging – and more rewarding – than climbing the world’s highest mountains.
The kicker to this editorial?
Check out the (what I assume is an auto-generated) ad at the top of the page.
Before our first Orbit Baby flame retardant story ran, Orbit’s website cited Arlene’s work and implied her nonprofit endorsed the company. She asked them to take this endorsement down after we pointed it out to her.
#Irony
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