Flame retardant exposure during pregnancy linked to lower child IQ

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A new study provides strong evidence that a hazardous class of flame retardants – chemicals commonly found in furniture and household products – damages children's intelligence, resulting in loss of IQ points.

The chemical, also known as PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers), first came into widespread use after US state California passed fire safety standards for furniture and certain other products in 1975.

Where flame retardants can be found at a typical household. /The Environmental Working Group Photo

Due to the size of the California market, flame retardants soon became a standard treatment for furniture sold across the United States.

PBDEs and similar flame retardants are not chemically bonded to the foams they protect. Instead, they are merely mixed in, so can easily leach out from the foam and into house dust, food, and eventually, human bodies.

Flame retardants are most often found in car seats, office chairs and gym foam pits. /The Environmental Working Group Photo

The study, published this week in Environmental Health Perspectives by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) , goes beyond showing a strong correlation between PBDE's effect and children's intelligence by including the largest meta-analysis performed on flame retardants to date.

Authors considered factors like strength and consistency of the evidence to establish that there was "sufficient evidence" supporting the link between PBDE exposure and intelligence outcomes.

They examined data from studies covering nearly 3,000 mother-child pairs, and discovered that every 10-fold increase in a mom's PBDE levels led to a drop of 3.7 IQ points in her child.

Household product containing flame retardant /Reuters Photo

Acknowledging that a 3.7-point decrease in IQ might not sound like a lot, lead author Juleen Lam, an Associate Research Scientist at UCSF's Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment (PRHE), noted that on a population-wide level, it means more children who need early interventions.

In addition, the researchers found some evidence of a link between PBDE exposures and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Evidence of PBDEs' danger prompted reconsideration. Starting in 2003, California, other states, and international bodies approved bans or phase-outs for some of the most common PBDEs.

VCG Photo

Less than two weeks before the UCSF study's release, legislation was introduced in the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on July 25 to ban PBDEs and all other flame retardant chemicals from furniture and children's products sold in the City and County of San Francisco.

The UCSF researchers have posted guidelines for avoiding PBDEs during pregnancy and The Toxic Matters brochure on PRHE (Program for Reproductive Health and the Environment)'s website.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

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