Flame Retardants
Flame retardants are widely used in many products including upholstery and furniture. However, they have been linked to a range of human health problems and some act as oestrogen mimics which is a concern for breast cancer.
Whilst recognising there is a need to minimise fire risks, Breast Cancer UK support a phase out of flame retardants that are harmful to the environment and human health and support initiatives that generate products which use non-hazardous compounds or do not require use of flame retardants to comply with safety tests.
Breast Cancer UK position
- Ministerial Briefing on Flame Retardants (last updated September 2015)
Consultation responses
- Response to BEIS consultation on updating the UK Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations (Septermber 2016)
- Comments to ECHA on draft screening report on assessment of whether flame retardants TCEP, TCPP and TDCP in articles should be restricted (February 2018)