Capitol Weekly, October 2, 2008
By, Malcolm Maclachlan
Excerpt: A new study shows that Californians have twice the level of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in their bloodstreams than people living in other states.
PBDEs are often used in furniture sold in California in order to comply with the state's strict fire safety standards. Studies on animals have suggested that PBDE's can cause cancer, thyroid and endocrine problems, and could affect brain development.
The study was published this week in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science & Technology. It was conducted by the Massachusetts-based Silent Spring Institute in collaboration with the University of California Berkeley, Brown University, and the group Communities for a Better Environment.