Efficiency of Chemical Regulation as examined through the Biological and Historical study of Flame Retardants
Abstract:
Flame retardants are commonly used to reduce product flammability, protecting individuals from injury and death in fires. However, the risk of harmful health effects caused by exposure to certain flame retardants may outweigh the benefits. There is a continual cycle of the application of flame retardants followed by widespread exposure and discovery of negative health effects. The historical investigation of past flame retardants, such as Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and the biological investigation of a current flame retardant, Firemaster 550 provides evidence of this continual cycle. The effects of two Firemaster 550 ingredients, isopropylated triphenyl phosphate (ITP) and tetrabrominated biphenyl (TBB), were tested on thyroxine levels and body weight of Xenopus. Liver weight, liver lipid weight, and liver thyroxine levels were also measured. ITP was found to significantly affect liver lipid weight (p=0.002). The historical investigation of the Environmental Protection Agency and environmental legislation provides reasoning as to why there is a continual cycle of exposure to flame retardants that prove to be harmful. The Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA), the legislation that authorizes the EPA to regulate flame retardants, needs to be revised for better regulation of flame retardants.