Toxic Flame Retardants

During a recent expedition, Jean-Michel Cousteau and his Ocean Futures Society team discovered an alarming fact: many populations of killer whales are contaminated with toxic, synthetic chemicals known as PBDEs, or flame retardants.

These flame retardants are in use because the State of California requires that some products be flame resistant, for example, furniture and many children's products. It is now known that these chemicals leak into the environment through the air, are carried by dust and water and enter the food chain. Like their banned relatives, the PCBs, flame retardants persist in the environment, concentrate over time, are toxic, with likely adverse effects on both orcas and humans, and are now found globally. Their presence in the environment is doubling every five years.

The science is clear that these chemicals represent enormous potential harm to the development of both animals and children. We cannot wait to act. Jean-Michel Cousteau and his team are joining forces with decision-makers in government and industry to address the public's demand for protection. It's time to find ways to prevent such chemicals from entering the environment in the first place, to find alternatives, and to anticipate problems before they occur. We cannot wait to find a cure for dangerous products after they are in the environment and in us.

This Ocean Futures Society campaign intends to educate, inform and create a dialogue for change from the level of the individual to the corporate boardroom and international legislatures until environmental protection from toxic contaminants like flame retardants is assured.

Toxic Flame Retardants Public Service Announcement

Summary: Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Future Society is leading a campaign to ban PBDE toxic flame retardants. These synthetic chemicals make clothing, furniture and electronics less flammable, but we now know they are harmful to humans and to sealife, especially killer whales.