Californians have much higher levels of flame-retardant in their blood

Californians have twice as much of a flame-retardant chemical in their blood and as much as 10 times more of it in their homes than elsewhere in the country, researchers are reporting.

Children and infants, who may be more susceptible to the harmful effects of the chemicals can have several times as much as adults, a research team reported Wednesday in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

The chemicals, called polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDEs, have been shown in animals to cause thyroid hormone disruption and to interfere with developing reproductive and nervous systems.

Widespread use of the chemicals began with the passage of a California law 30 years ago requiring furniture and bedding to withstand 12 seconds of contact with an open flame without igniting. To meet the standard, foam and similar materials contain as much as 12% PBDEs by weight.