Wal-Mart bans sale of flame retardant

According to researchers, PBDEs leach out of household products and end up in dust, air, food and human bodies. As a result, PBDE levels in the environment, human blood and breast milk have drastically increased over the past two decades.

The largest U.S. retailer advised suppliers recently that beginning June 1 Wal-Mart would test products to ensure that the goods do not contain polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDEs. These are a class of compounds in use since 1976 as flame retardants for electronics, furniture, sporting goods, pet supplies, curtains and toys.

Wal-Mart based its planned ban on studies that linked PDBEs to problems with the liver, thyroid, reproductive systems and brain development in laboratory animals.

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Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/briefs/articles/90036684?Wal-Mart%20bans%20sale%20of%20flame%20retardant#ixzz1FKtDlOua