Summary: Brominated and chlorinated flame retardants are widely used in upholstered furniture and foam products. These compounds have been found to accumulate in the bodies of humans , and although more information is needed on health effects, the available toxicity data are troubling. In this podcast, Åke Bergman discusses the San Antonio Statement on Brominated and Chlorinated Flame Retardants, drafted in September 2010, in which an international group of scientists calls for greater awareness of and responsibility for this group of chemicals, including better life-cycle management. Bergman is a professor of environmental chemistry at Stockholm University in Sweden.
