Fire Retardants in Our Homes, Food, and Bodies

Fire retardants are everywhere. They are emitted by the plastics in our cars, computers, TVs, and radios. They are in our synthetic clothing and carpets, fluorescent light ballasts, and other electrical equipment. They are in caulks, paints, floor tiles, and linoleum. They’re leaking out of landfills, in the fish and meat we eat, and in our bodies. Our children have more fire retardants in their blood than we do, and each generation will have greater amounts. Our resident industrial hygienist and environmental health expert Monona Rossol explains how this has happened, how it affects our health, and what we can do about it.