TAGS: Flame Retardants
A common method used to evaluate skin exposure to hazardous chemicals among workers at electronics recycling plants is to wipe workers’ hands with hand wipes and measure the amount of chemicals on them. A new study found that it took multiple wipes to remove much of the flame retardant residue from workers’ hands at one U.S. recycling facility.
Harmful Health Hazards of Flame Retardants
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A new study found that it took multiple wipes to remove
flame retardant residue from workers’ hands at recycling facility
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The study was co-authored by Diana Ceballos of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Flame retardants are associated with myriad health issues, including:
- Disruptions to the immune system
- Reproductive problems
- Endocrine disorders
Limiting exposure to these chemicals may help mitigate the risks, according to experts. Workers at electronics recycling facilities may be regularly exposed to flame retardants as they dismantle electronics and release the chemicals into the air, which settle on work surfaces.
FR Residue Still Remains after Several Wipes
In the new study, researchers examined the efficiency of two different types of hand wipes in removing flame retardant residue from employees’ hands:
Samples were collected from a dozen employees immediately at the end of their shift, prior to washing their hands.
Findings indicated that the twill wipe was slightly better than the gauze at removing the flame retardants, but that for both types, even after several wipes, it appeared that some residue remained. “
The precise number of sequential wipes required to fully quantitate the amount of flame retardant on an employee’s skin is uncertain,” the authors wrote.
Source: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health