Used in everything from car seats and carpet padding to electronics, a common class of flame retardants could be delaying pregnancies. In 2010, researchers published a study releasing some pretty alarming facts. For each tenfold increase of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) levels in the blood, women were likely to experience a 30 percent increase in the time it took to become pregnant.
Found in: Carpet padding, electronics, furniture foam, dust.
Protect yourself: Opt for natural surfaces, such as hardwood or bamboo, rather than carpet, and look for furniture WITHOUT tags that say “complies with California Technical Bulletin 117; use a daybed or futon in place of a couch, vacuum often, wipe electronics down with a damp cloth to prevent dust buildup, and buy new electronics from one of these companies vowing to phase out these flame retardants
from www.rodale.com
