Flame Retardant Chemicals Taint All U.S. Coastal Waters

[babylonsister]

Flame Retardant Chemicals Taint All U.S. Coastal Waters

WASHINGTON, DC, April 1, 2009 (ENS) - Chemicals used as flame retardants in consumer products since the 1970s now are found in all U.S. coastal waters and the Great Lakes, with elevated levels near urban and industrial centers, according to a federal government report issued today.

The nationwide survey found that New York's Hudson-Raritan Estuary had the highest overall concentrations of the chemicals, both in sediments and shellfish, but scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found polybrominated diphenyl ethers, PBDEs, in all U.S. coastal waters.

These toxic chemicals are used as flame retardants in building materials, electronics, furnishings, motor vehicles, plastics, polyurethane foams and textiles.

The federal Agency for Toxic Substances says that the concentrations of PBDEs in human blood, breast milk, and body fat indicate that most Americans are exposed to low levels of PBDEs.

A growing body of research points to evidence that exposure to PBDEs may produce detrimental health effects in animals, including humans.

Toxicological studies indicate that liver, thyroid and neurobehavioral development may be impaired by exposure to PBDEs and they have been found to impair the immune systems of animals. These chemicals are known to pass from mother to infant in breast milk.

"This is a wake-up call for Americans concerned about the health of our coastal waters and their personal health," said John Dunnigan, NOAA assistant administrator of the National Ocean Service.


more...

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2009/2009-04-01-092.asp

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Remarkable. A chemical intended to save lives will harm many more people in another way.

[ClarkUSA]

2. They are found in all of our bloodstreams, too, starting with all children's pajamas...

all seat cushions, mattresses...

The best thing to do is start buying organic pajamas for babies/kids, organic cotton or latex mattresses/cushions, etc.

[Dogmudgeon]

3. Pass the Pringles (and the Charmin)

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/12/041219134759.htm">... Olestra Plus Caloric Cut Boosts Toxic Excretion (Science Daily, Dec. 17-24, 2004.)

It isn't a new finding, but it is interesting. The scientists in question reported a 30-fold turnover and excretion of a target organic chlorine compound (14C-hexachlorobenzene) with an Olestra-fortified diet.

Olestra is an undigestible complex sugar that is used to replace dietary fat. It is not popular because of its propensity to cause "anal leakage" of dietary fat. However, as the article describes, it can be a very effective "detox" method for dealing with organic halogens, of which PBDE is one. (The "B" stands for Bromine.)

Orlistat, a weight-loss medication that prevents fat assimilation by blocking one of the key enzymes in that system, is also effective, but it also has the same butthole-goo problem.

On the other hand, if I was suffering from serious (and properly-diagnosed) organic chlorine/halogen toxicity, I would bite the bullet -- and stay away from Rick Santorum.

--d!

[kestrel91316]

4. Almost enough to make a person long for the good old days when all we

had to worry about was DDT.......