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Toxic Flame Retardants Manufactured by Chemtura May Have Caused Massive Harm
Healthy Child
Monday, March 29, 2010
The Council for Education and Research on Toxics (CERT), a non-profit organization working on environmental health issues, filed a $9 billion claim against Chemtura regarding the harm caused by its flame retardant chemicals penta and octaBDE.
CERT is concerned that toxic flame retardants manufactured by Chemtura have caused massive harm to people and the environment. The flame retardants are also known as polybrominated biphenyl ethers, commonly called PBDEs. Chemtura was the sole U.S. producer of pentaBDE and octaBDE, both chemicals banned globally by the Stockholm Convention.
Chemtura, a multi-billion dollar chemical company, filed for protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in 2009. CERT filed a claim against Chemtura in the bankruptcy proceeding, claiming the company has caused $9 billion in damage. A hearing on Chemtura’s objection to the claim is scheduled for April 7th.
On Monday, CERT filed testimony from 15 physicians and scientists, establishing the nature of the harm and the extent of the damage caused by Chemtura.
Penta-BDE contamination of the environment is a “chemical time bomb” on a huge scale according to Dr. Susan Shaw, Director of the Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI). “Given the demonstrated toxicity of pentaBDEs, the prospect of diminished intelligence in children and reduced fertility our population looms in our not-too distant future.”
Dr. Arlene Blum, founder of the Green Science Policy Institute and a chemist who has studied the chemicals for 30 years, said, “Penta-BDE causes brain damage, including a loss of IQ points in children, undescended testicles in boys, reduced fertility in men and women, thyroid disease and endocrine disruption. Studies have demonstrated that this chemical has harmed salmon, predatory birds, otters, seals and killer whales, as well as caused massive pollution to waterways especially the Columbia River.”
Dr. Brian Roach, an economist at Tufts University, provided a sworn statement to the bankruptcy court indicating that a preliminary estimate of the damages from a reduction in IQ levels among children in California alone is over $50 billion.
Dr. John Meeker, a Harvard-educated Professor of Environmental Health, explains, “Infants and children have the highest exposures, because toxic chemicals are transferred from mothers to their infants through breast milk and they are also more likely to come into contact with contaminated house dust.” Dr. Meeker also notes that the homes of 24 men attending an infertility clinic were tested and found to be heavily contaminated with PBDEs.
Dr. David Epel, the Jane & Marshall Steel Jr. Professor of Biology at Stanford University, explained that PBDEs accumulate and cannot be detoxified by the human body, so they remain in bodies of people and animals for long periods of time -- decades.
Holly Lohuis, a marine biologist with the Ocean Futures Society and a mother of a young son had herself and her son tested for PBDEs. “It shocked me to see these dangerous chemicals – which I know are a factor in declining health of marine mammals – in my son and in my own body. These chemicals are widespread and well documented for adverse health effects.”
“Most of the toxic pentaBDE ever made is still in furniture inside our homes and schools,” said attorney Raphael Metzger, who is involved in the case. “It is critical for the health of infants and children that the bankruptcy judge allow CERT to pursue its claim so that funds from Chemtura’s insurers can be used to remove and replace this toxic furniture.”
Chemtura has disputed CERT’s claims, asserting that there is no scientific link between its flame retardants and harm to people or wildlife. However, to date, Chemtura has provided no sworn statements from any physicians or scientists to support its denials. Rather, Chemtura says that CERT has no legal right to make its claim for people and wildlife harmed by the toxic chemicals.
Press Release distributed by The Council for Education and Research on Toxics (CERT), a public benefit corporation, whose charitable purposes are education and research regarding toxic substances.
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of Healthy Child Healthy World.
Posted by Jon Solomon on 03/29/2010 at 05:27 PM
CERT is little more than a sham environmental litigation outfit. They file frivolous lawsuits and cross their fingers that the company will settle or that the judge doesn’t throw it out. How do you sue a firm with a net worth of $3 billion for $9 billion? Do a net search on the history of CERT (suing the fast-food industry over french fries, suing Starbucks over tea, Dole over bananas etc). In the Dole case, Metzger had to withdraw from the case due to evidence of false witnesses (per the LA Times). Also do a search of the scientists listed above, and tell me how impartial they might be in this matter.
Rest assured, if CERT wins anything in this case, the only furniture that will be replaced are those in Metzgers’ homes.
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Posted by Jason Sabo on 03/31/2010 at 10:36 AM
If this issue is important to you, please take several minutes to join SafePhaseOut.org, a website dedicated solely to the replacement of deca-BDE with environmentally-friendly fire safety alternatives. The EPA agreement is much safer than an immediate ban on flame retardants. I just supported the site and had a letter written to my legislator within the week.