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10/24/07

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Rahodeb

Rahodeb

Los Angeles, CA
March 2006

OCT 17, 2007 01:41 PM





You know what's retarded? The fact that the EPA doesn't require labeling on products--like matresses and couches--that contain dangerous PBDEs. PBDEs, or polybrominated diphenyl ethers, are flame retardant chemicles that are added to upholstery, computer parts, mattresses, fax machines, carpets, car seats and house wiring. Apparently, Americans' bodies have the world's highest concentration of PBDEs--10 to 40 times higher than Europeans--and it's doubling every three to five years.

We eat, absorb and breathe PBDEs daily, and they end up in everything from baby's brains and mother's milk to polar bears.



"What is in commercial products is getting into the environment," says EPA scientist Linda Birnbaum, "and what's in the environment is getting into wildlife and people."



Because the EPA does not require labeling, you are unlikely to know which, if any, PDBEs are in the mattress your baby sleeps on, the couch you potato on and the electronic equipment you surf the web with.

Even though the chemical has been ubiquitously used for the past three decades, and even though animal testing has pointed to grievous dangers, the EPA likes to claim that there's not enough evidence, that the effects are unknown, and that the levels humans are exposed to are too low to matter.

That stance serves the $2.9 billion flame retardant industry -- an industry that shreds logic by arguing simultaneously that the effects on humans are unknown and that exposures are too low to cause concern.



But evidence of the danger is piling up. While test animals exposed to high levels of PBDEs developed tumors, even low levels caused deficits in learning and memory that worsened with age. The chemical may also impact behavior, disrupt endocrine function, irreparably damage reproductive systems and cause thyroid disease. A small decrease in thyroid hormone levels can produce cognitive impairment in children, including lowered IQ.

There are three main types of PBDEs: penta-, octa- and deca. It's been widely agreed that the first two are dangerous, and the European Union, Canada, and a few U.S. states have banned them. That's great, but some recycled materials, not to mention items produced before the phase-out, can still contain up to 30 percent penta or octa. Not only that, but since the 2004 E.U. ban, foreign sources have been dumping "significant amounts" of octa- and penta-laden products in the United States. And, to add insult to injury, the U.S. still manufactures deca-BDE.

The United States still manufactures deca-BDE and uses it in electronics, upholstery and textiles, despite its status as a likely carcinogen and its ability to break down into dioxin-like molecules.



"Some [Americans] have concentrations [of deca] not dissimilar to amounts in animals that cause cancer of the thyroid and liver," says Birnbaum.



PBDEs, like 62,000 other chemicals grandfathered in by the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act, never underwent an approval process. In 2006, the Government Accountability Office found that the EPA "does not routinely assess the human health and environmental risks of existing chemicals and faces challenges in obtaining the information necessary to do so ... Even when EPA has toxicity and exposure information," it has had difficulty demonstrating risks or pursuing limits or bans on production and use. In 31 years, the EPA has required testing for fewer than 200 grandfathered chemicals.

What does the "P" in EPA stand for? They say "Protection." I say "Pollution." The EPA fights pressure to label foods containing GMOs, fights pressure to label products containing toxic PBDEs, and has a history of having fought trans fat labeling for decades.



Of all places, shouldn't America be a country where citizens have access to information, so that they can make informed choices?

AntiPunk

AntiPunk

Liberia
May 2007

OCT 17, 2007 04:12 PM

Informed decisions often require an individual to desire to be informed. Whos to blame for apathy?

Sinlover

Sinlover

Daytona Beach, FL
January 2006

OCT 17, 2007 04:19 PM

AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA
"......Government Accountability Office...."
AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA

_DictionaryGirl_

_DictionaryGirl_

NEWSWIRE

San Diego, CA

OCT 17, 2007 04:24 PM

Unsurprising, and yet... yikes.

In other news, is it totally sad that I know what book cover the title picture is from? shocked

StarBelliedBoy

StarBelliedBoy

Philadelphia, PA
December 2003

OCT 17, 2007 04:29 PM

EVERYTHING WILL GIVE YOU CANCER news at 11!

I hate this kind of scare tactic journalism, and anybody that is actually freaked out by this is an utter rube.

Cash

Cash

I'm lost
OLD SKOOL

OCT 17, 2007 04:36 PM

StarBelliedBoy said:
EVERYTHING WILL GIVE YOU CANCER news at 11!

I hate this kind of scare tactic journalism, and anybody that is actually freaked out by this is an utter rube.



That reminds me of that old George Carlin bit:

"Scientists have found that saliva causes throat cancer..but only if swallowed in small doses over long periods of time"

attn_ho

attn_ho

Brooklyn, NY
February 2004

OCT 17, 2007 04:38 PM

_DictionaryGirl_ said:
Unsurprising, and yet... yikes.

In other news, is it totally sad that I know what book cover the title picture is from? shocked



stephen king's firestarter, adapted for the screen and starring drew barrymore?

Formus

Formus

Milwaukee, WI
May 2007

OCT 17, 2007 04:38 PM

_DictionaryGirl_ said:
Unsurprising, and yet... yikes.

In other news, is it totally sad that I know what book cover the title picture is from? shocked



Is it totally sad that the title picture reminded me of a dead baby joke?

unfiltrator

unfiltrator

San Francisco, CA
April 2004

OCT 17, 2007 04:54 PM

Formus said:

_DictionaryGirl_ said:
Unsurprising, and yet... yikes.

In other news, is it totally sad that I know what book cover the title picture is from? shocked



Is it totally sad that the title picture reminded me of a dead baby joke?



Is it totally sad that it makes me think of Drew Barrymore and Tangerine Dream?

Karuna

Karuna

Butler, PA
April 2007

OCT 17, 2007 04:57 PM

StarBelliedBoy said:
EVERYTHING WILL GIVE YOU CANCER news at 11!

I hate this kind of scare tactic journalism, and anybody that is actually freaked out by this is an utter rube.



You ever wonder why everything causes cancer? It's because it's legal to put known carcinogens in everything. Here's one from ten days ago.

But on the plus side, it's good to know I'm flame retardant.

_DictionaryGirl_

_DictionaryGirl_

NEWSWIRE

San Diego, CA

OCT 17, 2007 04:57 PM

attn_ho said:

_DictionaryGirl_ said:
Unsurprising, and yet... yikes.

In other news, is it totally sad that I know what book cover the title picture is from? shocked



stephen king's firestarter, adapted for the screen and starring drew barrymore?



The book was much better than the movie, in my opinion. But they often are.

Cash

Cash

I'm lost
OLD SKOOL

OCT 17, 2007 05:07 PM

I'm actualy flame retarded.zoom image

ardour

ardour

Ottawa, ON
March 2006

OCT 17, 2007 05:35 PM

StarBelliedBoy said:
EVERYTHING WILL GIVE YOU CANCER news at 11!

I hate this kind of scare tactic journalism, and anybody that is actually freaked out by this is an utter rube.



Scared? No. Annoyed that we have all these unavoidable chemicals in our lives? Yes.

I mean, I do belive more people getting cancer is a little annoying, especially when you get it. I know three people formally healthy people (with no links to each other) in their early twenties who have gotten cancer, including my 20 year old sister. Not to mention people suddenly developing deadly allergies and the like.

I'm not knowledgable enough to know if it's because of something like this article describes, and I'll be sleeping soundly on my bed tonight with no fear, but I would rather not have the chemical described above anywhere near me if I can help it.

Azkadellia

Azkadellia

Douglas, MI
April 2007

OCT 17, 2007 07:27 PM

I got people I want to try this flame retardation out on......I'll get back to you on the results.

Clidna

Clidna

Emo, ON
January 2005

OCT 17, 2007 07:39 PM

_DictionaryGirl_ said:
Unsurprising, and yet... yikes.

In other news, is it totally sad that I know what book cover the title picture is from? shocked



God no... that gives me hope wink

And of course, the book is always better!

Clidna

Clidna

Emo, ON
January 2005

OCT 17, 2007 07:43 PM

StarBelliedBoy said:
EVERYTHING WILL GIVE YOU CANCER news at 11!

I hate this kind of scare tactic journalism, and anybody that is actually freaked out by this is an utter rube.



Of course, you are right... let's all shut-up and stop trying to learn about possibly important things and go stick our heads in the sand. whatever

STATIC_LIFE

STATIC_LIFE

Australia
January 2004

OCT 17, 2007 08:19 PM

Wow and I thought that Americans were Accountability retardant

HarManic

HarManic

Decatur, IL
March 2005

OCT 17, 2007 08:59 PM

_DictionaryGirl_ said:
Unsurprising, and yet... yikes.

In other news, is it totally sad that I know what book cover the title picture is from? shocked



No, but between this and the High Fidelity riff you did recently, you've been getting me really turned on in the brain lately.

Keep up the good work!

towelb0y

towelb0y

Emeryville, CA
March 2004

OCT 18, 2007 12:25 AM

what doesn't kill you makes you....fireproof? Anyway am I the only one that thought of Mitch Hedberg's "fire exit" joke when reading the title of this article?

omeganightmare

omeganightmare

Petaluma, CA
May 2005

OCT 18, 2007 12:34 AM

towelb0y said:
what doesn't kill you makes you....fireproof? Anyway am I the only one that thought of Mitch Hedberg's "fire exit" joke when reading the title of this article?



+1

joker_

joker_

Windsor, CA
October 2005

OCT 18, 2007 02:13 AM

I am looking forward to my new life as a member of the fantastic four.

Bladen

Bladen

Gainesville, VA
February 2007

OCT 18, 2007 07:29 AM

Lets all just run around in bubble wrap and have our own personal doctors at our hands and feet.

Munke

Munke

Chula Vista, CA
May 2004

OCT 18, 2007 09:39 AM

I used to provide tech support at the EPA in San Francisco.... the most paranoid bunch of ex-hippies I'd ever met.

I can't remember how many times I was "detained" on the 11th floor (legal) for not having my badge on me.

YOU COULD BE SPYING ON US they'd say.

whatever

Protecting their agency, and their funding. That's ALL that they were about.

burtlo

burtlo

Seattle, WA
May 2004

OCT 18, 2007 01:31 PM

I imagine the flame retardant over-exposure could save us in these forums.

joker_

joker_

Windsor, CA
October 2005

OCT 18, 2007 03:12 PM

Cash said:
I'm actualy flame retarded.



When I first saw the title of this thread, I honestly thought it was: Are you fire retarded?

I was expecting to be admonished for leaving campfires lit in the forest by a person dressed as a bear.

Instead, it is yet another article that is telling me the EPA sucks balls. It is really bothersome. It seems to me that the EPA is guilty of all kinds of bullshit like this.

What if anything should we be doing in an effort to make the EPA start behaving? (question to everyone)


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