They're in your carpet. And your mattress. And the cushions of that sofa you love to lounge on.
You come into contact with them each time you use your cell phone. Or send an e-mail. Or take a drive in your car.
For more than 30 years, polybrominated diphenyl ethers— or PBDEs, for short—have been among the most common flame-retardant chemicals used in North America and Europe. When exposed to high heat or flame, they release bromines that rob the air of the oxygen needed to start or feed a fire.
Manufacturers add the quick-acting coatings to toys, electronics, mattresses, seat cushions, carpet padding and a long list of other plastic, foam or fabric products found in our homes, cars and offices.
The beauty of PBDEs is that they're designed to last the lifetime of these products.
The problem is, they persist in the environment much longer.
“When people throw away computers, cell phones or electronic games, the PBDEs they contain end up in the dump,” says Heather Stapleton, assistant professor of environmental chemistry at the Nicholas School. The bromines, which are similar in structure to PCBs and dioxins, aren't chemically bound to the products, but merely dissolved onto them. They evaporate or leach out into surrounding ecosystems and can be carried hundreds, or even thousands, of miles away by tides, currents and winds, she says. They are also released, through normal wear and tear, from products still in use in our homes and cars.
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