Evidence regarding risk of flame retardant

The recent opinion piece by Maureen Judge warrants some clarification [“Protect our homes, our children from toxic flame retardant,” Opinion, Feb. 13].

In her criticism of what we assume is the flame retardant TDCPP, the author fails to mention that the European Union completed a comprehensive risk assessment of the chemical in 2008. The assessment concluded: “There is at present no need for further information and/or testing and no need for risk reduction measures beyond those which are being applied already.”

It goes on to say that this conclusion “applies to combined exposure for the endpoints acute toxicity, irritation, sensitization, repeated dose toxicity, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, effects on male fertility and developmental toxicity.”

It is important for readers to understand that flame retardants play a unique role in fire prevention and fire safety. They not only can prevent fires from starting, but if a fire does occur, they can slow down the spread of the fire and improve the opportunity for safe escape.

--Jackson Morrill, director, North American Flame Retardant Alliance, Washington, D.C.