The Regulation of Brominated Flame Retardants and Pesticides

Chlorinated and brominated chemicals are in a class that breaks DNA, causes cancer, and is not found naturally in people or any species of mammal. In the 1970’s Arlene Blum’s  research and advocacy contributed to three of these chemicals, tris, Fyrol, and DBCP, being banned in the US. However most  other chemicals of this class haven’t been  regulated  and  continue to accumulate in our bodies and our environment.

The Montreal protocol has been successful in reducing worldwide production of methyl bromide, a toxic chemical in this class that is  the most potent ozone-depleting chemical still in widespread use. 

http://www.ciesin.org/TG/PI/POLICY/montpro.html

The treaty was originally signed in 1987 and stipulates that the production and consumption of compounds that deplete ozone in the stratosphere--chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform--are to be phased out by 2000 (2005 for methyl chloroform).

Currently the US is continuing the use of methyl bromide and the government is actively working against this international treaty .

Indeed  our  government is working to undermine most international toxics legislation.

We can have a cleaner and healthier environment by demanding the US government become a leader in reducing the use of harmful chemicals rather than opposing the world’s efforts to regulate  them.