What's in your carpet?
Brominated flame retardants are chemicals used to make materials less flammable. They are widely used in electrical and electronic devices, textiles and furniture. The presence of bromine makes these chemicals:
- persistent - i.e. they remain in the environment, as they are not degraded quickly,
- bioaccumulative - i.e. they accumulate in fatty tissues of wildlife and humans,
- toxic - i.e. they show a variety of severe toxic effects (e.g. liver tumours, endocrine disruption).
Numerous scientific studies have shown that brominated flame retardants are now widespread contaminants of the environment. They have been found in human blood and breast milk, in marine mammals and in marine and freshwater fish. Levels in humans and in the environment continue to increase.
But we don't need them! There are a variety of alternatives that do not pose such a threat to human health and the environment.
Help get brominated flame retardants banned by signing up to the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation's letter at www.snf.se
