{"id":284161,"date":"2021-10-06T11:55:44","date_gmt":"2021-10-06T11:55:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/chemicals-used-as-flame-retardants-in-electronics-may-harm-babies-brains-scientists-warn\/"},"modified":"2021-10-06T11:55:44","modified_gmt":"2021-10-06T11:55:44","slug":"chemicals-used-as-flame-retardants-in-electronics-may-harm-babies-brains-scientists-warn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/chemicals-used-as-flame-retardants-in-electronics-may-harm-babies-brains-scientists-warn\/","title":{"rendered":"Chemicals used as flame retardants in electronics may harm babies&#8217; brains, scientists warn"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Fire-resistant chemicals used in baby seats and electronics may harm brains of babies and young children, scientists warn<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"mol-bullets-with-font\">\n<li class=\"class\"><strong>Organophosphate esters are used to make consumer products less flammable<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"class\"><strong> North Carolina researchers claim the chemicals can harm brain development\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"class\"><strong>They warn their use could affect a generation&#8217;s IQ, attention and memory\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"author-section byline-plain\">By Joe Davies For Mailonline<\/a> <\/p>\n<p class=\"byline-section\"><span class=\"article-timestamp article-timestamp-published\"> <span class=\"article-timestamp-label\">Published:<\/span>  00:00 EDT, 6 October 2021  <\/span> | <span class=\"article-timestamp article-timestamp-updated\"> <span class=\"article-timestamp-label\">Updated:<\/span>  00:54 EDT, 6 October 2021  <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p> <!-- ad: https:\/\/mads.dailymail.co.uk\/v7\/us\/health\/none\/article\/other\/para_top.html --> <\/p>\n<p><!-- MOL-22124--><br \/>\n<!--[if !IE]&gt;&gt;--><\/p>\n<p>&lt;!&#8211;<br \/>\n<!--[if IE]&gt;--><\/p>\n<p><!--[if !IE]&gt;&gt;--><\/p>\n<p>&lt;!&#8211;<!--[if IE]&gt;--><\/p>\n<p><!--[if !IE]&gt;&gt;--><\/p>\n<p>&lt;!&#8211;<!--[if gte IE 8]&gt;&gt;--><\/p>\n<p>&lt;!&#8211;<\/p>\n<p><!--[if IE 8]&gt;--><\/p>\n<p><!--[if IE 9]&gt;--><\/p>\n<p><!--[if IE]&gt;--><\/p>\n<p><!--[if !IE]&gt; --><\/p>\n<p>&lt;!&#8211;<\/p>\n<p><!--[if IE]&gt;--><\/p>\n<p>  (function (src, d, tag){<br \/>\n    var s = d.createElement(tag), prev = d.getElementsByTagName(tag)[0];<br \/>\n    s.src = src;<br \/>\n    prev.parentNode.insertBefore(s, prev);<br \/>\n    }(&#8220;https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/static\/gunther\/1.17.0\/async_bundle&#8211;.js&#8221;, document, &#8220;script&#8221;));<\/p>\n<p><!--[if !IE]&gt; --><\/p>\n<p>&lt;!&#8211;<!--[if IE]&gt;--><\/p>\n<p>    DM.loadCSS(&#8220;https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/static\/gunther\/gunther-2159\/video_bundle&#8211;.css&#8221;);<\/p>\n<p><!--[if !IE]&gt; --><\/p>\n<p>&lt;!&#8211; <\/p>\n<p><!-- MOL-22124--><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Fire-resistant chemicals used in electronics, furniture and even baby seats could harm children&#8217;s brains, scientists have warned.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">US researchers who reviewed dozens of international studies found a link between exposure to organophosphate esters and lower IQ and attention span in youngsters.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The chemicals had been assumed to be safe by regulators but the research shows they are neurotoxic and &#8216;just as harmful&#8217; as some banned flame retardants.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Scientists say their prominence\u00a0in a wide range of baby products and building materials could threaten &#8216;a whole generation&#8217; in terms of brain development.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Experts were already aware of how toxic the chemicals are when used in nerve agents and pesticides, but they were thought to be safe in manufactured goods.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The scientists published their research in a commentary in scientific journal Environmental Health Perspectives<\/a>\u00a0today.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>   <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-60f15978edb42b0a\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2021\/10\/05\/15\/48791579-10061355-image-a-16_1633444724849.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Common chemicals used to prevent fires in TVs and car seats could harm babies' brains, scientists have warned [stock image]\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/>   <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-60f15978edb42b0a\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2021\/10\/05\/15\/48791579-10061355-image-a-16_1633444724849.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Common chemicals used to prevent fires in TVs and car seats could harm babies' brains, scientists have warned [stock image]\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/>   <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Common chemicals used to prevent fires in TVs and car seats could harm babies&#8217; brains, scientists have warned [stock image]<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Lead author and neuroendocrinologist at North Carolina State University\u00a0Heather Patisaul said: &#8216;The use of organophosphate esters in everything from TVs to car seats has proliferated under the false assumption that they\u2019re safe.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;Unfortunately, these chemicals appear to be just as harmful as the chemicals they\u2019re intended to replace but act by a different mechanism.&#8217;<\/p>\n<ul class=\"rotator-panels link-bogr1 linkro-ccox\">\n<li>   <span>From vitamins to painkillers, many everyday remedies now&#8230;<\/span> <\/a>   <span>Is YOUR child the class clown? It could be a sign of&#8230;<\/span> <\/a>   <span>Scientists develop &#8216;pellet&#8217; that can be injected into a&#8230;<\/span> <\/a>   <span>Patients who develop depression as part of long Covid&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"mol-factbox-title\">What are organophosphate esters?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Organophosphate esters are chemicals used to make consumer products including TVs and car seats less flammable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">They were brought in to replace phased out some halogenated flame retardents which were shown to be toxic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The chemicals work by\u00a0char layer on burning materials, preventing oxygen stoking flames.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Up until recently, scientists considered their use as a retardant safe, despite their toxicity when used as fertilizer or nerve agents already well known.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">But experts now warn they could pose a threat to babies&#8217; and childrens&#8217; brains because of the way the chemicals are ingested by people.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The chemicals can be released from products by moving into surrounding air and dust, the researchers uncovered.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">This dust transfers to the hands of people touching them, which is inadvertently consumed when people eat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Babies and children are particularly vulnerable to this because of the amount they put their hands in their mouths.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Researchers found youngsters had higher concentrations of the dangerous chemicals in their system.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Brain development is most vulnerable in early ages, meaning the chemicals could have a worse effect on them than in adults.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Co-author Linda Birnbaum said: &#8216;Organophosphate esters threaten the brain development of a whole generation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;If we don\u2019t stem their use now, the consequences will be grave and irreversible.&#8217;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Scientists are calling for industries to stop using the chemicals where their presence is not essential.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">They recommend governments and industry invest in alternative technologies to reduce the flammability of electronic products.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Co-author\u00a0Carol Kwiatkowski said: &#8216;Organophosphate esters in many products serve no essential function while posing a serious risk, especially to our children.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;It\u2019s urgent that product manufacturers critically reevaluate the uses of organophosphate ester flame retardants and plasticisers \u2014 many may be doing more harm than good.&#8217;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>            <!-- ad: https:\/\/mads.dailymail.co.uk\/v7\/us\/health\/none\/article\/other\/inread_player.html --><\/p>\n<p>      <\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Comments <span class=\"readerCommentsCount\">67<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>\n\t    Share what you think\n          <\/p>\n<ul id=\"rc-tabs\" class=\"js-links dm-tabs cnr5 cleared\">\n<li class=\"dm-tab dm-tab-on bdrgr5 cnr-bdr wogr5 link-wox js-active\">\n        <span class=\"xogr5 tl\"><\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"xogr5 tr\"><\/span><br \/>\n        Newest<\/a>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"dm-tab bdrgr5 ow-igr2-bx cnr-bdr xogr2 link-gr5ox\">\n        <span class=\"xogr5 tl\"><\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"xogr5 tr\"><\/span><br \/>\n        Oldest<\/a>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"dm-tab bdrgr5 ow-igr2-bx cnr-bdr xogr2 link-gr5ox\">\n        <span class=\"xogr5 tl\"><\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"xogr5 tr\"><\/span><br \/>\n        Best rated<\/a>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"dm-tab bdrgr5 ow-igr2-bx cnr-bdr xogr2 link-gr5ox last\">\n        <span class=\"xogr5 tl\"><\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"xogr5 tr\"><\/span><br \/>\n        Worst rated<\/a>\n      <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The comments below have not been moderated.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bold pad5 wogr5 rc-info\">\n      The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.\n    <\/p>\n<p>  <\/a><\/p>\n<p>      <a id=\"newcomment\" name=\"newcomment\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>              <span>Close<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"modal-title\">Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline?<\/p>\n<p class=\"modal-subtitle\">Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>            <span>Close<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"modal-title\">Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline?<\/p>\n<p class=\"modal-subtitle\">Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual<\/p>\n<p>  We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. 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Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fire-resistant chemicals used in baby seats and electronics may harm brains of babies and young children, scientists warn Organophosphate esters are used to make consumer products less flammable North Carolina researchers claim the chemicals can harm brain development\u00a0 They warn their use could affect a generation&#8217;s IQ, attention and memory\u00a0 By Joe Davies For Mailonline <a class=\"read-more-link\" href=\"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/chemicals-used-as-flame-retardants-in-electronics-may-harm-babies-brains-scientists-warn\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-284161","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284161","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=284161"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284161\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=284161"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=284161"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=284161"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}