APHA Policy Statement on PBDEs

The American Public Health Association (APHA) in 2004 issued a policy statement calling for action to be taken to prevent human exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) used as flame retardants. In urging proactive steps to reduce exposure, the APHA states that PBDE compounds are widely used, chemically similar to PCBs, environmentally persistent, rapidly bioaccumulating in human tissue including breast milk, and function as developmental neurotoxicants in studies with laboratory animals.

It notes that the European Union and several states in the U.S. are instituting phase-outs of PBDE use, and that alternatives to PBDEs for fire safety include product redesign to eliminate the need for added chemicals; use of naturally flame retardant materials like wool and leather or plastics containing sulfur; and use of alternatives such as red phosphorus, ammonium polyphosphate and aluminum trihydroxide.

The APHA resolution calls for fixing a date for phasing out use of PBDEs; federal and state action to alleviate the short-term economic impacts from the phase-out and to sponsor research in alternatives to PBDEs; labeling for products that contain PBDEs; regulating disposal of PBDEs or discharges to surface water; and increasing environmental monitoring for PBDEs, including biomonitoring of body burden.

All of the APHA policy statements for 2004 can be found here.