Chemical flame retardants have made their way into a very long list of mundane everyday household objects. This was no doubt originally intended to help save lives, which it has done. Unfortunately a string of studies published over the past few decades have shown that flame retardants may also be putting our health at risk in other ways.

There has been growing concern about the long term side-effects of Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, in particular. PBDEs are a family of closely related chemicals that have been a popular form of flame retardant since the late 1970s. They are commonly found in a number of everyday consumer products ranging from computers and home theater components, to clothing, and even the stuffing in your mattress.

Whenever your PC or home stereo heats up due to normal use, its plastic casing releases a small amount of PBDE into the air. Like many toxins, exposure to PDBEs doesn’t normally trigger an acute response from the body, but it can have a serious cumulative effect. As concentrations build up in the body, there is an increased risk of permanent nervous and reproductive system damage.

Household PBDE exposure is especially troubling because its potential to cause neurological damage is most pronounced in small children. Foam stuffing is another common place to find PBDE flame retardants. Seemingly benign items such as a child’s bedding or stuffed plaything can be additional sources of toxic flame retardant exposure to watch out for. And remember – exposure is cumulative. If that weren’t bad enough, some recent studies have also shown that excessive PCBE levels can even contaminate breast milk in nursing mothers. Yikes!

How To Reduce Exposure to Toxic Flame Retardants

Do you your homework. Any time you buy something that plugs in, or has foam stuffing, check with the manufacturer to see what type of flame retardant they use.

Keep an eye out for rips or tears in furniture and children’s toys. PDBEs are able to escape into the environment much more easily through even the smallest openings. If possible, replace worn out furniture rather than recovering it. If the item is something that’s important — like a family heirloom — then have the stuffing replaced along with the fabric with non toxic material.

Switch to “smart” power supplies/surge protectors for your home electronics. Not only will these save you considerable money over time, but the will also reduce the amount of heat (and therefore toxins) your components generate when they are not in use.

These tips can help you to greatly reduce your exposure to PBDE and other toxic flame retardants that could be making you sick. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible for the average person to completely remove these chemicals from their environment. As a preventative measure, I also recommend purchasing air purification systems for your home and regular body cleansing and maintenance to ensure that toxins do not accumulate to dangerous levels.

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• Is Your Bed Toxic?
• How to Eliminate Toxins from Indoor Air
• 20 Reasons Why You Should Do A Body Detox Today!