PBDE Flame Retardants Cross the Placenta and Cause Harm
NonToxCo Research
Science & Safety Team · 4/8/2026
PBDE flame retardants cross the placenta and disrupt hormones at the boundary between mother and baby.
Flame Retardants at the Placental Interface
A 2026 study in Endocrinology examined how PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) act as endocrine disruptors at the fetomaternal interface. PBDEs, once widely used in furniture foam and electronics, were banned but persist in the environment and in our bodies for years. They cross the placenta and interfere with hormonal signaling between mother and fetus.
Even though PBDEs are being phased out, they're still in older furniture, carpets, and house dust. Exposure continues through these legacy sources.
What You Can Do
Replace old foam furniture made before 2005. Use HEPA vacuums. Keep dust levels low. Browse non-toxic baby products for flame retardant-free options.
Source: Authors (2026). Endocrinology.