Chemicals that protect things like furniture and electronics against fire are turning up in people's blood streams at an alarming rate, reports CBS News. And recent research suggests the chemicals can be passed from a pregnant woman to her unborn child.

Called Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs), the chemicals have been linked to learning problems in children, including attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity.

Experts say the chemicals appear to emanate from the treated products and accumulate in human fat cells. Manufacturers are not required to report if these chemicals are used in their products, although some makers are advertising PBDE-free lines.

Fire-safety experts worry that states like California and Massachusetts are proposing bans on products containing PBDEs, since no alternative is widely available, CBS says.

Source: CBS  News

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