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Dallas, Texas, USA, 2004-09-02 (ENS) - A group of researchers affiliated with the University of Texas School of Public Health has detected chemical components of flame retardants in food products sold on the shelves of stores in Dallas, Texas. The highest doses were found in animal fats, particularly in salmon meat. Dr. Schecter, the lead author of the report and an expert in environmental health, stated, "This study is the first nationwide survey of brominated flame retardant components in retail food products."
Brominated flame retardants (PBDEs) are added to electronic products and polyurethane foam (PUF) as fire retardants, and PUF is commonly used in carpet padding, mattresses, chairs, sofas, and other furniture. PBDEs have been detected in human bodies worldwide, but the scientific community has not yet fully understood the mechanism by which these chemicals are absorbed by the human body.
The report, published on the 1st in the journal "Environmental Science and Technology," revealed that the levels of flame retardants detected in food products in Dallas were higher than those found in similar surveys conducted in other countries. Currently, apart from the United States, only Spain and Japan have conducted similar studies, with Spain's study detecting 340ppt (parts per trillion), higher than Japan, and the United States even higher than Spain.
Schecter stated, "We found PBDEs in all food products containing animal fats," with the highest doses found in fish, followed by meat, and then dairy products . Since PBDEs are most soluble in fats, they seem to accumulate easily in the tissues of animals and humans.
The toxic effects of brominated flame retardants are not yet fully understood, but the increasing levels in human tissues have raised concerns among health officials, as animal experiments have shown that PBDEs are associated with cancer, endocrine disruption, and impaired brain development.
The levels of PBDEs in food products in Dallas stores may differ from those in other parts of the United States. Schecter plans to expand his research, extending the sampling of food products across the United States to gain a deeper understanding of how humans absorb brominated flame retardants through food.
Source: http://news2. ngo. org. tw/ php/ ens. php? id=04090201
Flame Retardants Found in Dallas Food Products
Brominated flame retardants (PBDEs) are added to electronic products and polyurethane foam (PUF) as fire retardants, and PUF is commonly used in carpet padding, mattresses, chairs, sofas, and other furniture. PBDEs have been detected in human bodies worldwide, but the scientific community has not yet fully understood the mechanism by which these chemicals are absorbed by the human body.
The report, published on the 1st in the journal "Environmental Science and Technology," revealed that the levels of flame retardants detected in food products in Dallas were higher than those found in similar surveys conducted in other countries. Currently, apart from the United States, only Spain and Japan have conducted similar studies, with Spain's study detecting 340ppt (parts per trillion), higher than Japan, and the United States even higher than Spain.
Schecter stated, "We found PBDEs in all food products containing animal fats," with the highest doses found in fish, followed by meat, and then dairy products . Since PBDEs are most soluble in fats, they seem to accumulate easily in the tissues of animals and humans.
The toxic effects of brominated flame retardants are not yet fully understood, but the increasing levels in human tissues have raised concerns among health officials, as animal experiments have shown that PBDEs are associated with cancer, endocrine disruption, and impaired brain development.
The levels of PBDEs in food products in Dallas stores may differ from those in other parts of the United States. Schecter plans to expand his research, extending the sampling of food products across the United States to gain a deeper understanding of how humans absorb brominated flame retardants through food.
Source: http://news2. ngo. org. tw/ php/ ens. php? id=04090201