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New Thinking on Flame Retardants Kellyn S. Betts Abstract
To meet U.S. fire safety standards, manufacturers, until recently, have primarily chosen polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) as the flame retardant used in furniture, bedding, electronics, and other consumer products. But growing evidence of adverse health effects from exposure to these compounds is driving both bans on their use and a search for new and safer alternatives. Two promising possibilities include incorporating flame retardants into the materials themselves using nanomaterials in fabrics and using halogen-free flame-retardants in electronics, including a polymer that releases water vapor rather than hazardous gases when it burns.
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