Dust on computers from flame retardants is called a health risk, explains a June 4 article by Benjamin Pimantel of the San Francisco Chronicle:
But Jeff Stier, associate director of the American Council on Science and Health, criticized the report's authors for exaggerating the dangers from brominated flame retardants.
"Just because they can be measured does not mean they therefore have health consequences," said Stier, whose consumer education group is funded by private foundations, trade associations, corporations and individuals.
"We have real public health issues to deal with," he added. "These activist groups are focusing on such non-issues. This is a fraud."
He also criticized the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition for including a picture of an infant with a finger in his or her mouth on the report. "The fact that they're using children to scare parents is really outrageous," he said.