Dangerous flame retardants are present in many child care centers, potentially exposing young children to chemicals.
Many young children spend 50 hours a week inside their daycare facility, a University of California - Berkeley news release reported.
The team looked at 40 child care centers that were attended by 1,764 children. The centers were located in "urban, rural and agricultural areas," the news release reported.
"These findings underscore how widespread these materials are in indoor environments," study lead author Asa Bradman, associate director of the Center for Children's Environmental Health Research at UC Berkeley, said in the news release. "A growing body of research has found links between flame retardants and a range of human health effects, including neurodevelopmental delays in children. Children are more vulnerable to the health effects of environmental contaminants, so we should be particularly careful to reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals."
Flame retardants were found in dust in the study but the air quality in most of the facilities proved to have a relatively low concentration of the chemical. Facilities that used foam napping equipment instead of upholstered were more likely to have flame retardants.
California banned two types of PBDEs in 2006 and furniture manufacturers have also been phasing them out.
"I remember learning about the tris phosphate flame retardants in kids' pajamas when I was in high school 35 years ago, so it's a bit surprising to still be seeing them today," Bradman said. "They were never banned. There seems to have been a resurgence in recent years as manufacturers looked for PBDE replacements."
This year California Department of Toxic Substances Control started considering children's sleeping mats that contained flame retardants a product that is harmful to consumers.
Changes in state flammability regulations could help reduce the rate of flame retardants in furniture and other items.
"The new standard is not a ban on flame retardants, but manufacturers can meet it without using the chemicals," Arlene Blum, a postdoctoral researcher, said in the news release. "Most upholstered fabrics, such as leather, are already smolder-proof. Consumers should verify that the furniture they are buying is free of flame retardants, especially when children will be exposed."
