WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Flame retardant chemicals found in home furniture, electronics, insulation, mattresses and other products are hazardous, U.S. environmentalists say.
Brominated and chlorinated flame retardants can cause serious health harm while providing only limited fire safety benefits, a release from Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, a coalition of 250 environmental health groups, said Thursday.
The coalition is urging an overhaul of the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act, the current federal law regulating chemicals.
"This is the latest example of the enormous gap between what scientists and health experts are saying, versus what the chemical industry is saying," coalition Director Andy Igrejas said.
"The fact is the industry is still putting known toxic chemicals, such as flame retardants, into everyday products that people take into their home unawares."
During the last congressional session, two proposals were presented to overhaul the toxic substances act, but neither reached a vote.
New bills are expected to be introduced in the next session.
