Press Release – Building Research and Information [Volume 40, Issue 6] United Kingdom

Researchers in the United States are calling for a change to the US building codes, following a study showing that the mandatory flame retardants routinely added to foam insulation are not only harmful to human health and the environment, but also make no difference to the prevention of fire in buildings where a fire-safe thermal barrier already exists. Such a change would bring the US building codes in line with regulations in Sweden and Norway.

The research team, which is drawn from US-based centres of excellence including the University of California and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, conducted a thorough review of fire safety literature since the mid-1970s and conclude that the addition of halogenated organic compounds to plastic insulation materials such as polystyrene, polyisocyanurate and polyurethane is costly, ineffective and environmentally damaging. Their conclusions are published in the latest issue of the journal Building Research and Information.

Led by internationally renowned fire expert Dr Vytenis Babrauskas of Fire Science & Technology Inc., the research team investigated the impact of the “Steiner Tunnel test”, which is used to test the propagation of fire over the surface of all sorts of building materials in the early stages of fire (before flashover point is reached). Their paper suggests that changing the US building codes to exempt foam plastic insulation materials from the test would avoid the use of thousands of tonnes of flame retardants that are known or suspected to be persistent organic pollutants. They conclude:

“Such a change would … decrease the cost of foam plastic insulation and encourage the use of insulation materials for increasing building energy efficiency and mitigating climate change. The potential for health and ecological harm from the use of flame retardant chemicals would be reduced and the fire safety of buildings would be maintained.”

Their article begins with a review of the development of the US building codes in relation to fire safety, and foam insulation in particular, and explains that foam plastics used for insulation have required a thermal barrier (usually 12.7 mm (1/2 inch) thick gypsum wallboard) since 1976. In addition, chemicals such as hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and Tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP) are routinely added in order to meet the requirements of the Steiner Tunnel test. The building codes have never stipulated that chemicals be added to foam plastic insulation, however doing so is the most common way to meet the Steiner test. These additives are semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) which do not bind to the insulation material and are known to be released into the environment throughout the life cycle of insulation. The chemicals can persist and accumulate, and have been implicated in thyroid hormone disruption and nervous system development problems and are potentially carcinogenic.

The experts suggest that exempting foam plastic insulation materials from the Steiner Tunnel test would mean there was no longer a need to add these flame retardants.

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Question from Mandy

Hi there, I’m having a lot of difficulty finding some answers to my questions about wool. I’m really hoping that you (or your readers) can help me to find some answers to my questions concerning wool and yarn that is meant to be used for children’s and babies clothing, toys and craft activities.

The more I look into this the more confused I become!

When looking at organic wool yarns, would yarn dyed using “natural substances and dyed without the use of acid based chemicals” be preferable to “low impact acid dyes”?

I’ve found two companies in the U.S. that offer organic yarn but are dyed using different methods, both seem to have great products.

What poses more danger to the health of a child (particularly toddlers who put everything in their mouths), the wool or the chemicals used to dye it?

Would it be better to focus on organic wool or standard wool made with safer dyes?

Debra’s Answer

With regard to dyes, “natural substances without the use of acid based chemicals” would be preferable to “low impact acid dyes.” Here’s why. Natural substances come from living things–plants, animals and minerals–whereas low impact dyes are made from petrochemicals. Natural dyes are just more biocompatible, particularly for a baby. They are the real thing.

The Swans Island baby blankets look totally safe to me as well as beautiful, and they are using local wool. O-wool would be second choice because of use of imported wool and petrochemical dyes (though they get points for using low impact dyes).

Would it be better to focus on organic wool or safer dyes? I think they are about equal in importance. Best would be organic wool with natural dyes.

With regard to wool for craft activities, you can get undyed organic wool from Shepherd’s Dream.

Actually just received a newsletter from them announcing their crafting scraps on the very day your question came in!

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Question from priya

Hi! I was trying to find a table cloth protector which is free of toxin.Any idea where I will be able to find it? Thanks

Debra’s Answer

Most table cloth protectors are made of soft vinyl, like a shower curtain.

I can’t imagine how it would be possible to make a clear table cloth protector without a toxic plastic.

There are other less toxic plastics that could be used, polyethylene is used to make plastic bags, but I don’t know if there is a clear polyethylene thick enough for a table cloth cover.

The only solution I can think of is to get a piece of glass cut to the size of the table and use that over the tablecloth, or use tablecloths you can toss in the washer, like I do.

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Question from priya

I am trying to find a toxic free reed diffuser. Any recommendations on that? Thanks

Debra’s Answer

When I first read your question, I thought, well wouldn’t all reed diffusers be toxic? But then I did some research and have an answer for you.

First, for those of you who don’t know what a reed diffuser is, it’s a method for delivering fragrance into the air. Most fragrances sold for reed diffusers are toxic, just like any other synthetic fragrance.

However, apparently you can make your own fragrance oil to use in reed diffusers from natural essential oils. Amie’s Aromatherapy Encyclopedia: See How to Make Essential Oil Reed Diffusers.

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Question from adrian

Hi, Two questions. I was wondering if anyone knows of any low sulfate or no sulfate shampoos that have clean ingredients? I am using WEN Lavender cleansing conditioner, the ingredients look somewhat OK. Does anyone know about WEN ingredients?

THANK YOU!!

Debra’s Answer

I know Wen contains synthetic fragrance, which is enough reason for me to not use them.

There’s actually a whole website dedicated to locating sulfate-free products at www.slsfree.com. You would have to check all the other ingredients to see that they do not contain synthetic fragrance and any other other ingredients you want to avoid.

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Question from LT

Have you heard of Swiss Diamond Cookware? And I was wondering if you consider this safe cookware? Thanks

Debra’s Answer

Swiss Diamond Cookware has a non-stick finish made from PTFE that is manufactured without any PFOA. This, according to their website is reinforced with diamond chips, which are naturally non-stick, thus using less PTFE.

PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene. This is a plastic.

I’ve seen other cookware stating that PTFE without PFOA is “safe,” however, I can’t recommended any plastic heated to high temperatures coming in contact with food.

The only non-stick pans I recommend are those with ceramic coatings, such as Xtrema, which is ceramic through and through, and Cuisinart’s Green Gourmet line.

The only non-stick pans I recommend are those with ceramic coatings, such as Xtrema, which is ceramic through and through, and Cuisinart’s Green Gourmet line.

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Question from MCS

We recently discovered we have roof rats in our yard. A pest control service installed bait traps in our 6 citrus trees, utilizing bromethalin and brodifacoum. I am highly sensitive to pesticides and suffer numerous neurological symptoms after exposure. If I do not get close to the bait stations, will these likely cause a problem? Do you know of a safe and effective way to deal with this problem? I don’t want to cause environmental harm, but I was so stunned to find out we had this problem that I jumped into this type of treatment immediately. Thanks for all the help you provide on your website!

Debra’s Answer

Here’s a very thorough publication about roof rats and how to control them using habitat modification and trapping: The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension: Roof Rat Control around Home and Other Structures.

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