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Exposure to flame retardants in pregnancy reduces intelligence in the unborn child
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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Today, all the debates about the toxicity of substances used to prevent household items from catching fire are only gaining momentum. One of the latest studies by scientists has shown that a woman's contact with such substances (fire retardants) in the early stages of pregnancy leads to hyperactivity in the child and reduced intelligence.
Fire retardants are special mixtures of substances (or substances) that help prevent combustion of organic materials (fabric, wood). The protective effect is created due to the low melting temperatures of such substances and the formation of a film that blocks the flow of oxygen to the material, also fire retardants decompose when heated and release inert gases (vapors) that prevent the material from igniting. Ammonium phosphates, ammonium sulfate, boric acid, boron are widely used, less often ammonium chloride and zinc chloride are used.
As the latest research by experts in this field has shown, exposure of a pregnant woman to flame retardants leads to increased levels of certain chemicals in the fetus's brain. Exposure to flame retardants is especially dangerous in early pregnancy, when the main development of the child's brain occurs. Scientists have determined that the IQ of such children will be reduced by 4.5 points.
The scientists were prompted to conduct the study by a lack of knowledge about the chemical compounds that were widely used in the consumer market. The research project began ten years ago, during which the scientists analyzed the urine and blood of more than 300 women in the sixteenth week of pregnancy. During the project, the scientists followed the children's development until they reached the age of five.
As it turned out, the greatest danger to the child's development was posed by polybrominated diphenyl ethers, which are used as fire-resistant materials in the manufacture of furniture, car seats, and carpets. As scientists note, in the United States, polybrominated diphenyl ethers occupy one of the highest levels of human impact, and their effect is comparable to lead. The decomposition of such substances takes decades. Most household goods manufactured over the past three decades continue to remain in homes and offices, which potentially poses a health hazard. However, replacing fire retardants in industry is no less dangerous, since replacing old substances with new ones without preliminary research can lead to even more undesirable consequences.
Recently, the problem of replacing some chemicals with others in order to make industry safer has become increasingly important.
Today, flame retardants help save the lives of many families and improve the level of fire safety in the home, the Fire Protection Alliance notes. But flame retardants are chemicals and are also subject to environmental protection study not only in the United States but around the world.