Legislator: Ban toxic flame-retardant compound
All of us are only too painfully aware that the chemicals that make our life easier are the same that often poison us.
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Unfortunately, the burden of proof is often left to the consumer rather than to the chemical companies that don't always disclose effects.
As an Alaska legislator, I am concerned about a particular form of a flame retardant that has been classified as a "persistent bioaccumulative toxin". I am introducing a bill that would ban specific uses of this chemical.
Where is it? It is in the air, it is in our oceans, it is in food chains, it is in mammals, including humans and it is toxic. There are alternatives for this particular chemical.
The compound is one of the polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDEs. It is added to plastic, foam or textiles to inhibit flame formation. PBDEs have come to public attention lately because their levels in the environment and humans have increased rapidly since these chemicals have come into use.
PBDEs are a fine, white or off-white crystalline powder used mainly in plastics but also applied in a backcoating to textiles. It is an "additive" flame retardant, meaning it is mixed into but not chemically bound to the host material. This fact is particularly critical because decaBDE tends to migrate from the product into the environment. There is evidence that it concentrates up the food webs with top predatory birds, mammals and fish having higher levels than species lower in the web. DecaBDE can be metabolized in any organic life including mammals, fish and humans, and some of the metabolites may be more toxic than the PBDEs themselves. It can also bind with atmospheric particles, and therefore become airborne. We often think of air currents as coming from Asia, but we must also think closer to home, including the dust in our homes.
What are the specific products?
It is added to some of the hard, dense plastics used for TV cabinetry, distribution boxes, casings of cassette tapes and some computer casings. It is also found in the coating over electrical wiring.
Flame retardant coatings are also on textiles, mainly found in office furniture and drapes, new car upholstery, in airplane seats, schools, hotels, theaters, and automotive fabrics. It is not currently used in clothing or residential upholstered furniture.
Levels of PBDEs in human breast milk are highly correlated with levels in the mother's blood and fat. Breast-fed infants receive more PBDEs than any other age group.
Exposure of the fetus and infant to PBDEs is of particular concern, because these chemicals are able to produce developmental neurotoxicity and disruption of the endocrine system including thyroid and reproductive function, nervous system function, chemistry and behavior, immune function and liver function.
It has met the definition of a persistent bioaccumulative toxin or PBT. It was classified as such in a 2006 report by the Washington State Department of Ecology. Therefore it is important that the use of decaBDE be eliminated, and replaced by other safer flame retardants. DecaBDE has already been banned in several states and throughout Europe.
While it is difficult to ban or even identify every toxic chemical, we do know about this one and we know there are safe alternatives. It is but one more chemical added into our oceans and into our food chain.
Because of the high level found in seals off the coast of Maine, researcher Susan Shaw quipped, "I am happy to tell you that our harbor seals will not be bursting into flames."
While the jury is still out on levels in Alaska seals, it is important that we protect our fisheries and protect our children. We need to take an active stand and ban this chemical's use in Alaska.
• Andrea Doll is an Alaska state representative and a member of Turning the Tides, a Juneau grass-roots nonprofit working to promote ocean-friendly technologies and alternatives to plastics. To contact the organization, call 907-789-0449 or visit www.turningthetides.org.