'Environmentally friendly' flame retardant could degrade into less safe compounds
Wednesday, January 9, 2019 - 08:00
in Physics & Chemistry
To reduce the risk of fire, many everyday products—from building materials to furniture to clothing—contain flame retardants. In recent years, some of these compounds were shown to have harmful effects on the environment, causing them to be replaced by more eco-friendly alternatives. However, a new study in ACS' journal Environmental Science & Technology, indicates that heat or ultraviolet light could break down a "safe" flame retardant into potentially harmful compounds.