Blood Levels Of Flame Retardants Correlate With House Dust Exposure
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 01.18.07
For this post put on your white lab coat. That way it's easier to say polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardant, a bioaccumulative, slow-to-break-down substance, concentrations of which, in human blood, have been found to correlate with concentrations of those same PDBE's in house dust. This is very important information for all TreeHugger readers. If there's a lot of PDBEs in you, or in your kids, odds are it happened from breathing and touching the dust in your house. How did it get into the house dust? That's exactly the question researchers are trying find a precise answer to. As reported in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, "New research published today [January 17, 2007] on ES&T’s Research ASAP website is the first to definitively link the PBDE concentrations found in people with the quantities of the persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) contaminants in dust from their homes. When considered in tandem with the U.S. EPA’s new assessments of PBDEs and data on the high concentrations of the contaminants in the dust of some U.S. homes, the findings suggest that children could be exposed to levels that put them at risk of developing neurological problems". See our unscientific technical and marketing analysis below the fold.
ES&T summarizes the exposure possibilities this way: "What the new research does not show is the source of the PBDEs found in the dust. Webster's questionnaire included detailed questions about potential sources of PBDEs, such as electronics, and furniture likely to contain foam-padding. He says he and his colleagues were "surprised . . . that we couldn't find any relationship based on what we know about how PBDEs are used in household products.""
Not being bound by the standards of real science, and thus not needing any real data to make our point, we're going out on a limb here (hey, we might qualify for a job on cable news). There's not enough surface area of PDBE containing plastic exposed to the atmosphere on home electronic devices to give you an every day snoot full of the nasty dust. Moreover, the engineering plastics that make up a PC or TV shell remain non-friable (no crumbling) for many years. Conversely, anyone who has taken down an old drape or unzipped an old foam padded cushion has experienced the dust that wafts up in that friable state. There's no need to wait for the corroborating studies before you reduce the PDBE exposures for you and your family.
You got your bamboo textiles, and you got your hemp and your basic jute and your organic woolens and cotton choices for decor items too. What else do you need to know? Knock off the petro-fabrics already. It's better for the climate change thing and better for your kids especially.
Regretably, there's one topic we're forced leave hanging. On TreeHugger we often sing the praises of "repositioned" materials or re-used articles. Those often include things made of old petro-textiles. Thinking some about this new study, that repositioning thing might not be such a good idea. Guess we'll have to wait for the "more data" after all.
Oh...and one more thing. Here is a picture of some foam cushions taken out from old car seats. Americans (the ones with the highest blood levels of PDBE's in the world) also spend more time in their cars than anyone else. You get the picture. One more reason to ride a bike.
Top image credit: Roy Harrington Gallery
In response to how the PBDE (Brominaded Flame Retardants) get into household dust:
The connection is that PBDE is used in all
household products including fabrics and textiles. It
off gases with application of heat. At very low
temperatures of heat such as those found in UVR
frequency, sunlight.
PBDEs are reactive with detergent and laundry products, such as Downy, that are ethanol based. There is warning on the MSDS data sheet for Downy NOT to wash children’s sleeping fabrics and products in Downy as it is reactive with the textile PBDE application. In addition, this compound is reactive with fluoride and chloride water treatments. Both chemical reactions produce natural gas resulting in mercury, lead, and heavy metal toxicity.
PBDE are used extensively in the textile industry and are applied in synthetic textiles during processing or after garment assembly as per US standards and codes for fire safety.
Degradation of PBDEs results in more toxic chemical
compound formation. Breakdown of this chemical occurs
through exposure to sunlight, oxygen, and heat from multiple sources such as air, chemical, and water.
The amount of PBDE ranges from 5 to 30% by weight of
product. This would include: Mattresses, seat
cushions, upholstered furniture, rigid insulation,
polyurethane foam, acrylonitriile butadiene styrene
(ABS), thermoplatic elastomers...plastics for
fax machines and computers, autmobile trim, telephone,
handsets, kitchen appliance casings, acrylic, nylon
(children's pajamas)....the list is long. Fabric that
includes flame resistance are the nylons acetates, and
triacetates (polyesters).
Numerous chemical processes detail the application
process of bonding PBDE to fabric.
PBDE are very sensitive to heat and out gas bromide vapor. Bromide, along with fluoride, chloride, and O2, is an ionizing element that is persistent and self propagating. It is recognized as an environmental persistent organic compound.
PBDE, when combined with heat produce a vapor that has a similar constitution as the party drug ecstasy (Norwegian National Defense Research), and acts similar to the those drugs found in benzodiazepines chemical configurations.
The benzodiazepines are addictive, and after prolonged exposure cause liver damage resulting in fatty liver conditions and cirrhosis. They also affect the GABA ion channel in the brain causing neurotransmitter problems, which, when affected, cause CNS and insomnia problems.
Benzodiazepines have side effects such as behavioral changes, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, confusion, depression, seizures, hallucinations, sleep problems, increased nervousness, involuntary movement (especially the eyes), low blood pressure, muscle weakness, skin rash, itching, unusual bleeding or bruising, yellowing of the skin, sore throat, sores in the mouth, and fever with chills. It is reported that these symptoms can appear with prolonged usage.
Bromide compounds and its vapor can be inhaled, ingested, and absorbed through the skin. The subsequent results would be similar to taking a tranquilizer with similar long term effects to that of other psychotropic products in the Chloride category.
And the "scientist" and researchers are wondering from where the dust contamination is occurring? Sheesh! Even a Mother like me could figure this one out.
Flame retardant application, especially in children's products, was a lethal policy decision to make that is having grave and dire consequences for children and their parents.
Karen
(Environmental Consultant: Petroleum Engineering)
===== author's response follows =====
Thanks for the insights.
Normal wear of any fabric is an intuitively understandable source of brominate containing dust particles.
It would be helpful if you could address the significance of phase changes, starting with brominate-treated household products that do not normally wear into physical dust: e.g. potential of "off gas" (gas), to condense back to solid, particulate state as would normally be used to characterize dust. (Note: not all brominate treated materials come in direct contact with applied heat or sun.)
Phase change is critical to understand because it controls which human organ dominates uptake. For example, a brominate vapor can be breathed in, as is, and might cross the lung/blood interface directly; but vapor alone would be less likely to cross the skin-air interface at high rates, suggesting respiration as the major route of exposure if vapor alone were the concern.
Brominate contaminated dust can also be be breathed in or eaten, but, again, dust-bound brominates could not cross the skin without yet another phase transition occurring. Is that what you are suggesting happens: solid to gas to solid to gas/liguid?
Is it possible that small liquid amounts fabric or solid object exuded brominates directly permeate human skin, in which case direct product contact is relevant and dust and/or vapor uptake rates may be less relevant?
You see it is not that easy to understand after all.
Good questions, friend, and the contamination route still remain traceable and easy to understand. Let me explain by simply stating, Heat Happens.
All energy is in a state of transition, moving from solid to liquid to gaseous form as it heats and cools and then reheats. The first Law of Thermodynamics states the total energy of the universe does not change, it only changes form.
Heat, by any means, is a catalyst for energy to change state. As mentioned, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and O2 are ionizing agents. This means they are capable of retaining their own heat and transferring the heat to another element without reducing. Bromine compounds with fluorides, chlorides, and oxides thereby enhancing the heat transfer capability.
It is not only sunlight that causes heat, it is the very oxygen in the air as it moves. This process is called Oxidation/Reduction and it happens freely in the environment when organic and inorganic mass is exposed to O2 and water, or other ionizing agent. The product of oxidation is condensation.
The space within an average North American room is filled with air that contains approximately 18% oxygen. When air is heated, it accelerates the particles and they go through transitions of reduction. One state of reduction is water.
When bromide is combined with oxygen, it makes bromine dioxide or dibromine oxide. In this state it is free to attach to any particulate matter that is in the air space such as cadmium, polyvinylchloride (PVC), mercury from compact fluorescent bulbs, lead, or other contaminant produced by coal generated electrical sources. These are called poly-aroma-hydrocarbons.
It is not only dust that causes contamination by inhalation, it is air and particulate matter contaminated with bromine compound. Bromine compound in the dioxide state (vapor) is emitted by the heat generating sources within a home such as the television, stove, lightning accessories, computers, furnace, telephone etc. The warmer they become, the faster the release of bromine dioxide, mixed with the polyvinylchloride (plastic) or aluminum alloy product, or thionyl fluoride (a heat - resistant chemical used in the manufacture of electronic cables). Any source of friction resulting in heat will cause a change of state producing condensation.
Any product that has been treated with a BFR when heated will emit bromine dioxide, and in combination with other ionizing elements made in the product such as chloride and fluoride.
Although we would suspect that inhalation is the main exposure route, the fact is absorption through the skin is considerable, so is ingestion. How could this occur? Simply the heat from the human body can cause small amounts of oxidation to occur to bromine treated products such as bedding and pajamas that are treated after manufacturing and made with synthetic fibers treated prior to assembly. Heat creates water (sweat) that vaporizes to form water. Water is partially reabsorbed or evaporates into the air, hence the vapor.
Little Susie in her polyester pajamas and robe lying on the couch, treated with BFR and made from synthetic fiber, is making heat as she watches Saturday morning cartoons. She might rub her feet together in her PVC slippers and her feet will sweat. Skin absorbs chemicals such as fluoride, chloride, and bromide with considerable efficiency. She might take her sweaty palm and rub her eyes as the heat released by the televsision is drying the air.
Similarly, Jonnie playing softball has the same problem with his chemically treated baseball glove, his polyester uniform, and his PVC-made cup protector. As he stands in the sun, wind, or rain waiting for the big game play, movement within his glove and clothing causes slight degrees of temperature increase. The hand sweats and he absorbs those tanning chemicals from the leather, he absorbs the water treatment chemical, and the BFR. His testicles sweat too and absorb the PVC from his protective cup and the soap and water he used to bath earlier. How ironic to call it protective.
When skin absorbs ionizing chemical compounds from fluoride, chloride, and bromide it disrupts the cytokine channels. (Center for Chemical Toxicology Research and Pharmacokinetics, North Carolina State University).
This interferes with acetacholine, potassium, and sodium, the primary elements involved in nerve conduction, causing “exothermic” heat release in the cells. If not reduced by another heat event of greater value, it bio accumulates. Amount of absorption is relative to the duration, density, and composition of the toxic chemical.
In answer to your question if bromine exposed particulate matter permeates skin, the answer is yes. All forms of exposure are relevant and critical to understanding the bioaccumulative exposure and its toxicity to the organism.
Good questions, friend, and the contamination route still remain traceable and easy to understand. Let me explain by simply stating, Heat Happens.
All energy is in a state of transition, moving from solid to liquid to gaseous form as it heats and cools and then reheats. The first Law of Thermodynamics states the total energy of the universe does not change, it only changes form.
Heat, by any means, is a catalyst for energy to change state. As mentioned, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and O2 are ionizing agents. This means they are capable of retaining their own heat and transferring the heat to another element without reducing. Bromine compounds with fluorides, chlorides, and oxides thereby enhancing the heat transfer capability.
It is not only sunlight that causes heat, it is the very oxygen in the air as it moves. This process is called Oxidation/Reduction and it happens freely in the environment when organic and inorganic mass is exposed to O2 and water, or other ionizing agent. The product of oxidation is condensation.
The space within an average North American room is filled with air that contains approximately 18% oxygen. When air is heated, it accelerates the particles and they go through transitions of reduction. One state of reduction is water.
When bromide is combined with oxygen, it makes bromine dioxide or dibromine oxide. In this state it is free to attach to any particulate matter that is in the air space such as cadmium, polyvinylchloride (PVC), mercury from compact fluorescent bulbs, lead, or other contaminant produced by coal generated electrical sources. These are called poly-aroma-hydrocarbons.
It is not only dust that causes contamination by inhalation, it is air and particulate matter contaminated with bromine compound. Bromine compound in the dioxide state (vapor) is emitted by the heat generating sources within a home such as the television, stove, lightning accessories, computers, furnace, telephone etc. The warmer they become, the faster the release of bromine dioxide, mixed with the polyvinylchloride (plastic) or aluminum alloy product, or thionyl fluoride (a heat - resistant chemical used in the manufacture of electronic cables). Any source of friction resulting in heat will cause a change of state producing condensation.
Any product that has been treated with a BFR when heated will emit bromine dioxide, and in combination with other ionizing elements made in the product such as chloride and fluoride.
Although we would suspect that inhalation is the main exposure route, the fact is absorption through the skin is considerable, so is ingestion. How could this occur? Simply the heat from the human body can cause small amounts of oxidation to occur to bromine treated products such as bedding and pajamas that are treated after manufacturing and made with synthetic fibers treated prior to assembly. Heat creates water (sweat) that vaporizes to form water. Water is partially reabsorbed or evaporates into the air, hence the vapor.
Little Susie in her polyester pajamas and robe lying on the couch, treated with BFR and made from synthetic fiber, is making heat as she watches Saturday morning cartoons. She might rub her feet together in her PVC slippers and her feet will sweat. Skin absorbs chemicals such as fluoride, chloride, and bromide with considerable efficiency. She might take her sweaty palm and rub her eyes as the heat released by the televsision is drying the air.
Similarly, Jonnie playing softball has the same problem with his chemically treated baseball glove, his polyester uniform, and his PVC-made cup protector. As he stands in the sun, wind, or rain waiting for the big game play, movement within his glove and clothing causes slight degrees of temperature increase. The hand sweats and he absorbs those tanning chemicals from the leather, he absorbs the water treatment chemical, and the BFR. His testicles sweat too and absorb the PVC from his protective cup and the soap and water he used to bathe earlier. How ironic to call it protective.
When skin absorbs ionizing chemical compounds from fluoride, chloride, and bromide it disrupts the cytokine channels. (Center for Chemical Toxicology Research and Pharmacokinetics, North Carolina State University).
This interferes with acetacholine, potassium, and sodium, the primary elements involved in nerve conduction, causing “exothermic” heat release in the cells. If not reduced by another heat event of greater value, it bio accumulates. Amount of absorption is relative to the duration, density, and composition of the toxic chemical.
In answer to your question if bromine exposed particulate matter permeates skin, the answer is yes. All forms of exposure are relevant and critical to understanding the bioaccumulative exposure and its toxicity to the organism.
Good questions, friend, and the contamination route still remain traceable and easy to understand. Let me explain by simply stating, Heat Happens.
All energy is in a state of transition, moving from solid to liquid to gaseous form as it heats and cools and then reheats. The first Law of Thermodynamics states the total energy of the universe does not change, it only changes form.
Heat, by any means, is a catalyst for energy to change state. As mentioned, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and O2 are ionizing agents. This means they are capable of retaining their own heat and transferring the heat to another element without reducing. Bromine compounds with fluorides, chlorides, and oxides thereby enhancing the heat transfer capability.
It is not only sunlight that causes heat, it is the very oxygen in the air as it moves. This process is called Oxidation/Reduction and it happens freely in the environment when organic and inorganic mass is exposed to O2 and water, or other ionizing agent. The product of oxidation is condensation.
The space within an average North American room is filled with air that contains approximately 18% oxygen. When air is heated, it accelerates the particles and they go through transitions of reduction. One state of reduction is water.
When bromide is combined with oxygen, it makes bromine dioxide or dibromine oxide. In this state it is free to attach to any particulate matter that is in the air space such as cadmium, polyvinylchloride (PVC), mercury from compact fluorescent bulbs, lead, or other contaminant produced by coal generated electrical sources. These are called poly-aroma-hydrocarbons.
It is not only dust that causes contamination by inhalation, it is air and particulate matter contaminated with bromine compound. Bromine compound in the dioxide state (vapor) is emitted by the heat generating sources within a home such as the television, stove, lightning accessories, computers, furnace, telephone etc. The warmer they become, the faster the release of bromine dioxide, mixed with the polyvinylchloride (plastic) or aluminum alloy product, or thionyl fluoride (a heat - resistant chemical used in the manufacture of electronic cables). Any source of friction resulting in heat will cause a change of state producing condensation.
Any product that has been treated with a BFR when heated will emit bromine dioxide, and in combination with other ionizing elements made in the product such as chloride and fluoride.
Although we would suspect that inhalation is the main exposure route, the fact is absorption through the skin is considerable, so is ingestion. How could this occur? Simply the heat from the human body can cause small amounts of oxidation to occur to bromine treated products such as bedding and pajamas that are treated after manufacturing and made with synthetic fibers treated prior to assembly. Heat creates water (sweat) that vaporizes to form water. Water is partially reabsorbed or evaporates into the air, hence the vapor.
Little Susie in her polyester pajamas and robe lying on the couch, treated with BFR and made from synthetic fiber, is making heat as she watches Saturday morning cartoons. She might rub her feet together in her PVC slippers and her feet will sweat. Skin absorbs chemicals such as fluoride, chloride, and bromide with considerable efficiency. She might take her sweaty palm and rub her eyes as the heat released by the televsision is drying the air.
Similarly, Jonnie playing softball has the same problem with his chemically treated baseball glove, his polyester uniform, and his PVC-made cup protector. As he stands in the sun, wind, or rain waiting for the big game play, movement within his glove and clothing causes slight degrees of temperature increase. The hand sweats and he absorbs those tanning chemicals from the leather, he absorbs the water treatment chemical, and the BFR. His testicles sweat too and absorb the PVC from his protective cup and the soap and water he used to bathe earlier. How ironic to call it protective.
When skin absorbs ionizing chemical compounds from fluoride, chloride, and bromide it disrupts the cytokine channels. (Center for Chemical Toxicology Research and Pharmacokinetics, North Carolina State University).
This interferes with acetacholine, potassium, and sodium, the primary elements involved in nerve conduction, causing “exothermic” heat release in the cells. If not reduced by another heat event of greater value, it bio accumulates. Amount of absorption is relative to the duration, density, and composition of the toxic chemical.
In answer to your question if bromine exposed particulate matter permeates skin, the answer is yes. All forms of exposure are relevant and critical to understanding the bioaccumulative exposure and its toxicity to the organism.
Does anyone know if clothing containing flame retardants HAVE to say so on the tag? I know some products do, but can some products not even mention that they are flame retardant?