Brominated Diphenyl Ethers (BDEs) are added to polyurethane and other products as fire retardants. BDEs do not readily degrade in the environment. Excessive levels of BDEs are being found in treated sludge spread on farmland as a fertilizer. The substance is also increasingly appearing in fish. BDEs are popular with manufacturers because of their ability to suppress fire. Concern about potential risks to human health and the environment has centered on the hardiness of these chemicals, their tendency to bioaccumulate, their detection in several food items, their accumulation in human tissues, and their tendency to leach or escape from finished products.

See your doctor if you have experienced serious health problems because of exposure to BDEs. In addition, it may be important to contact an attorney who can help you protect your legal rights. Please keep in mind that there may be time limits within which you must commence suit.



See Also

  1. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs)
  2. Toxic & Hazardous Substances
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