The Washington Department of Ecology found flame retardant chemicals in twenty percent of children's play tents, tunnels, and chairs that it tested.

The flame retardants found include two chemicals, TDCPP and TCEP, that were banned under Washington's Children's Safe Products Act in 2017 in 17 of the 85 items tested.

The products tested were purchased before the ban.

Of the chairs tested in the study, none of those manufactured after California changed its flammability standard in 2015 contained any of the flame retardants Ecology tested for.

Adding flame retardants to the items was intended to prevent the spread of fire, but testing shows little safety benefit. The chemicals do, however, lead to significant exposure to people.

Parents should look for the California label known as Technical Bulletin 117-2013, when buying upholstered furniture. Furniture that meets California’s fire safety standard without adding flame retardants will clearly state, “The upholstery materials in this product contain NO added flame retardant chemicals.” 

Ecology advises parents to require children to wash their hands before eating, which reduces the potential for household dust to be ingested. Using a vacuum with a HEPA filter can also reduce your exposure to toxics in household dust. 

(Source: kxly.com)