Flame retardant chemicals found in home furniture, electronics, insulation, mattresses, and other products are hazardous, U.S. environmentalists said. Brominated and chlorinated flame retardants can cause serious health harm while providing only limited fire safety benefits, according to an October 28 release from Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, a coalition of 250 environmental health groups. The coalition is urging an overhaul of the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act, the current federal law regulating chemicals. During the last Congressional session, two proposals were presented to overhaul the law, but neither reached a vote. New bills are expected to be introduced in the next session.
More on the existing act at http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/tsca.html
