Illinois Public Interest Research Group
March 3, 2006
ILLINOIS WILL SEEK SAFER ALTERNATIVES TO TOXIC FLAME RETARDANT
[Rachel's introduction: The Governor of Illinois has ordered state agencies to find safer alternatives to a toxic flame retardant, deca-BDE. In a sense this is a precautionary action, but how many centuries of one-chemical-at-a- time precautionary action will it take before these bad-actor chemicals are gone?]
Agency Directed to Require Use of Safer Alternatives where Available and Affordable
Today, Governor Rod Blagojevich directed Illinois EPA to research the availability of safer alternatives to a chemical flame retardant known as "DecaBDE," which is widely used in household products such as television sets and sofas. In addition, Governor Blagojevich directed the agency to initiate regulatory proceedings to require the use of safer alternative flame retardants where they are available and affordable.
The directives, contained in a letter to the agency director, came in response to a newly-released Illinois EPA study, which concluded that DecaBDE is building up in our bodies, homes and environment, and is in widespread use despite considerable uncertainty about its safety.
"This report has given us an opportunity to take action and provide Illinois consumers with products that do not harm our health," said State Representative Elaine Nekritz, the author of legislation passed last year which initiated IEPA's research. "I'm heartened that the Governor is committing to protect Illinoisans' health."
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are added to consumer products like computers, televisions, curtains, furniture, and carpet, as flame retardants. PBDEs leach out of these products and into our environment, where they are accumulating in our bodies, food, homes, office, water and land.
"The problem is that we are exposed to these chemicals daily and tests have shown them to cause thyroid dysfunction, neurodevelopment delays, and birth defects in animals," said Nekritz.
Last year, Illinois joined six other states in passing legislation banning products containing two kinds of PBDEs known as PentaBDE and OctaBDE, and now these two chemicals are off the market. However, a third kind of PBDE known as Deca is still in widespread use. In fact, an estimated 54 million pounds of DecaBDE are sold every year in the U.S. and it is the most prevalent of the PBDEs in house dust.
"We shouldn't be used as human guinea pigs. The safety of chemicals should be studied and established before they are put into widespread use in our homes and offices," said Max Muller, Environmental Advocate for Illinois Public Interest Research Group, which has spearheaded a campaign to phase out PBDEs. "Wednesday's report shows that in the case of DecaBDE, we are being exposed to constant barrage of a chemical that hasn't been proven safe."
Last year's legislation required the Illinois EPA to study the latest scientific research on DecaBDE. That report was completed and transmitted to the legislature and Governor Blagojevich Wednesday.
"There is a growing consensus that the continued use of DecaBDE will result in the build up of toxins in our homes and environment. We thank the Governor for his appropriate response to IEPA's findings," said Muller.
Major findings of Wednesday's IEPA report:
1. DecaBDE is building up in our environment, and in our bodies.
" It is found in human blood samples and breast milk;
" It is present in sewage sludge, which is applied to agricultural fields and cam contaminate food;
" It was found in infant soy formula;
" It is found in the sediments of our rivers and lakes, including Lake Michigan;
" It is found in birds, including the peregrine falcon, and transfers to their eggs.
2. We are exposed to DecaBDE everywhere.
" DecaBDE is in our meat, fish, poultry, eggs and milk;
" It is in the dust in our homes and offices;
" Infants are exposed in breast milk as well as soy formula.
3. DecaBDE poses health concerns, particularly for developing fetuses and young children. While more studies are needed, existing animal and limited human studies suggest that exposure to DecaBDE may pose health risks including:
" Thyroid effects -- decreases in thyroid hormone levels, which can severely impact development of the fetal nervous system;
" Liver effects -- enlarged livers and precancerous liver cells;
" Reproductive effects -- low dose exposure may impair the development and functioning of the reproductive system.
" Neurological effects -- exposure in the womb has resulted in neurodevelopment delays, hyperactivity and learning disabilities.
4. DecaBDE may break down into even more harmful chemicals that are already banned. IEPA is awaiting further studies on this, but notes evidence that once DecaBDE is in our environment, either biological processes or sunlight can break it down into smaller, more toxic PBDEs or into hydroxyl structures that can disrupt normal hormone function.
5. There are effective alternatives to most of DecaBDEs major uses in textiles and fabrics.
" Phosphorous based flame retardants pose less health risk and are just as effective in preventing the spread of fire;
" There are alternative plastics, fabrics and resins that are less flammable than those currently employed.
Wednesday's IEPA's report on DecaBDE is available at: www.illinoispirg.org/PDFs/IEPADecaBDEStudy.pdf{1}
Today's letter from Governor Blagojevich to IEPA is available at:: www.illinoispirg.org/PDFs/GovDecaBDELetter.pdf{2}
{1} http://www.illinoispirg.org/PDFs/IEPADecaBDEStudy.pdf
{2} http://www.illinoispirg.org/PDFs/GovDecaBDELetter.pdf