Fire retardant costumes may pose Halloween danger
Story By: Jamie Smith
Halloween costume shopping is now a bit trickier for parents who are worried about flame retardants.
Nearly all Americans tested have trace levels of the chemicals in their blood, but what impact the compounds has on human health is a question that may not be answered for some time.
So what's a concerned consumer to do in the meantime? For years it has been a Halloween costume safety seal of approval, but now the flame retardant label is triggering concern and confusion amid ongoing research. There is concern over mixed messages about the safety of p-b-d-e's, the chemicals used to treat fabrics and a menu of other consumer products everything from mattresses to cell phones.
"I think caution not alarm what we're really looking for here," said Dr. Randy Wexler of Ohio State Medical Center. Randy Wexler said while it is nearly impossible to completely avoid p-b-d-e's, eating a low-fat, high fiber diet is one way to help reduce exposure. "One of the benefits of the low fat diet is the p-b-d-e's tend to accumulate in animal fat," said Wexler.
Housecleaning, regular vacuuming and dusting can lower the amount of p-b-d-e residue in the home, says Wexler who also recommends keeping an eye on the thermostat in the winter. "Higher heat actually releases these chemicals and increases their concentration," Wexler said.
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