Flame Retardants: Alarming Increases in Humans and the Environment

Brominated flame retardants, chemicals used to make foam, textiles, electronics, and other products fire resistant, are turning up in high amounts in the breast milk of American women. Two recent studies found that not only did American women have brominated flame retardants in their breast milk, but that the levels found were the highest known in the world. This fact sheet presents an overview of the concerns about brominated flame retardants.