'Environmentally friendly' flame retardant could degrade into less safe compounds
Wednesday, January 9, 2019 - 18:30
in Physics & Chemistry
To reduce the risk of fire, many everyday products -- from building materials to furniture to clothing -- contain flame retardants. In recent years, some of these compounds were shown to have harmful effects on the environment, causing them to be replaced by more eco-friendly alternatives. However, a new study indicates that heat or ultraviolet light could break down a 'safe' flame retardant into potentially harmful compounds.