Story at-a-glance

  • Greater exposures to flame retardants during pregnancy are associated with lower intelligence in children
  • For every ten-fold increase in prenatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), there was a 3.7-point decline in IQ test scores in children
  • 1 in 6 U.S. children now suffers from neurodevelopmental disorders, and research suggests PBDEs and other flame retardants are likely playing a role in the increasing rates of these disorders

STORY