Some Want Ban of PBDE Chemical

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Tuesday January 29 3:26 PM ET

Some Want Ban of PBDE Chemical

By MATT CRENSON, AP National Writer

A chemical flame retardant commonly used in foam furniture padding is

accumulating so rapidly in the breast milk of nursing mothers that

environmentalists and some scientists are calling for a ban on it.

Little is known about the toxic nature of polybrominated diphenyl

ether,

commonly known by the acronym PBDE. Early studies show it poses

some of the same dangers as PCBs and DDT. Those two chemicals were

banned in the United States

decades ago for their myriad detrimental effects on animal and human

health.

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