Flame Retardants Linked to Lower IQs, Hyperactivity in Children
by Dina Fine Maron May, 6, 2016
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Source: Scientific American
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Summary: Many compounds of flame retardants can still be found in homes even though, the usage of flame retardants in furniture and carpet padding have been stopped. These chemicals harm young children before they are born. Blood samples of309 pregnant women in their third trimester by a researchers to investigate the impacts exposure to flame retardants. It was found that "one class of flame retardant, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) correlated with behavior and cognition difficulties during early childhood". Researchers then found that children displayed deficits as well as hyperactivity through the first five years of their lives. There were two recent U.S. studies that showed association between prenatal exposure to retardants and developmental deficits and reduced IQ. This is very because those chemicals can interfere with the endocrine system. The structure of PBDEs strongly resembles thyroid hormones and affect thyroid regulation which can drive growth and development, in particular brain development. They are exposed to these toxins since they spend so much of the time close to the floor and putting their hands in their mouths. Parents can take extra precaution by having their children wash their hands daily and by replacing old furniture and carpet padding.
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Reflection: After reading this article I didn't know that flame retardants were harmful, I always thought of them as a good thing since they prevent fires in homes. I didn't know they had a chemical known as PBDE that is harmful towards babies and mothers. Once the babies grow up, their's a possibility that their can be chaos according to decreasing levels of IQ. It os California's fault for not warning us about these chemicals that can affect us and our economy. On the other hand, it is good that they are changing the law for the good of the people.
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