Bornfamous

Dangerous chemicals:

American women, it turns out, have 10 to 70 times more PBDEs in their breast milk, tissues and blood than do women in Europe, where industry has gradually phased the chemicals out. This year, in fact, the European Union banned PBDE compounds.

In March, Environment California published a new study warning of the dangers posed by certain flame retardants to the developing brain of the fetus.

Research on infant rats and mice suggests measurable changes in brain development between the third trimester of pregnancy through age 2. Scientists are therefore worried that PBDEs adversely affect the learning ability, memory and behavior of children. Still other researchers wonder if PBDEs, whose levels have doubled in some regions every two to three years, may contribute to breast cancer.