Abstract IA26: Carcinogens in consumer products: How science can inform policy to benefit public health

Abstract

Abstract Flame-retardant chemicals have been added to furniture, baby products, electronics, and building materials since the 1970s to meet flammability standards, but their effectiveness is questionable and many are associated with serious health and environmental concerns. Flame-retardant chemicals are associated with health concerns including loss of IQ in children, ADHD, fertility problems, and cancer. Flame retardants do not stay inside products; they migrate out into indoor air and dust and result in human exposure through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact. Significant exposure disparities are seen by age, race, and socioeconomic status (SES), with higher flame-retardant levels documented in infants/ toddlers, nonwhite children, and children of lower SES. Exposures to the flame retardants polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are associated with increased risks for testicular cancer, estimated to result in thousands of excess cancer cases in the U.S. population at a cost of over $80 million annually. The phaseout of PBDEs resulted in a large number of halogenated and nonhalogenated chemicals being used as replacement flame retardants, with studies finding almost 50 unique replacement flame retardants in U.S. indoor dust samples alone. A number of these replacement flame retardants, especially chlorinated chemicals, have identified cancer hazards. A recent assessment from the European Chemicals Agency found increased risks of cancer from infants’ exposures to “chlorinated Tris” flame retardants in children’s products and furniture. Chemical policies have generally managed flame retardants through a paradigm of allowing use while conducting an in-depth, quantitative risk assessment of specific chemicals to inform risk management. Risk assessments include studies of human exposures and effects, and if the chemical is found to be harmful, health damages may already have occurred prior to regulatory decisions. However, there is increasing recognition that this paradigm is insufficient to address current chemicals and their exposures before harm or keep pace with the proliferation of new chemicals. This presentation will review policy approaches attempting to address existing and emerging flame retardants and where possible, present data on their effectiveness in reducing chemical risks. Citation Format: Veena Singla, Tracey Woodruff. Carcinogens in consumer products: How science can inform policy to benefit public health [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Environmental Carcinogenesis: Potential Pathway to Cancer Prevention; 2019 Jun 22-24; Charlotte, NC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Can Prev Res 2020;13(7 Suppl): Abstract nr IA26.