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March 29, 2010

Dispatch: Nothing Is Safe

By Curtis Porter

Science News reports, “Two chemicals that are becoming widely used replacements for potentially toxic flame retardants in household products such as televisions and furniture have shown up in peregrine falcon eggs in California.”

“These are the alternatives to the allegedly toxic substances,” says Dr. Whelan. “It just goes to show you that, using the criteria of these self-designated ‘environmentalists,’ no chemical can ever be considered safe.”

According to June-Soo Park of the California Environmental Protection Agency in Berkeley, who presented the new research March 25 at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society, little is known about the toxicity of the replacement compounds and their potential to accumulate in people and wildlife.

“Of course little is known about the replacement compounds,” says Stier. “They’re brand new. Plenty is known about the original flame retardant. We should stick to the ones that have already been tested and are probably less expensive.”

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