title: Lessons learned from flame retardant use and regulation could enhance future control of potentially hazardous chemicals.
abstract: Flame retardant chemicals, used in many furniture and electronic products to slow combustion, are an example of science and policy problems related to chemical usage. Drawing on a literature review and interviews with stakeholders, we argue that early warnings of the health hazards some flame retardants pose were not heeded as their use expanded to different products. Continued use of flame retardants coincides with their increased presence in people and adverse human health effects. We recommend policy changes applicable to oversight of chemicals in general: examining classes of chemicals rather than individual ones, assessing alternative methods and materials, product labeling, and stronger regulation.
authors.affiliation: Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. phil_brown@brown.edu
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Alissa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cordner
mesh_terms: D003257:Consumer Product Safety / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D058735:Environmental Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D033161:Government Regulation; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D010755:Organophosphates; C012085:tris(2,3-dibromopropyl)phosphate