Are flame retardants in children's clothing fabrics safe?
No. Peer-reviewed research links exposure to these chemicals to significant developmental, cognitive, and health issues in children.
What's actually in it
Flame retardants are chemicals added to fabrics to slow down fire. The most common types found in consumer goods include organophosphate esters and brominated flame retardants. These chemicals do not stay inside the fabric. They can leach out into the environment or be absorbed through contact.
Because children are still growing, their bodies are uniquely sensitive to these substances. Once these chemicals enter the home or attach to clothing, they can build up in house dust or directly interact with a child's skin.
What the research says
The science is clear: these chemicals are linked to serious health outcomes. A 2026 study in Environ Pollut found that prenatal exposure to organophosphate esters is associated with changes in child cognition. Another 2026 study in Environ Res linked gestational exposure to these same chemicals to shifts in child growth, including weight and body mass index, between the ages of 2 and 10 years.
The risks extend to behavior and immune health as well. A 2026 study in J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol connected organophosphate esters in house dust to behavioral outcomes in children. Furthermore, a 2026 study in Sci Total Environ found a clear association between brominated flame retardants and the diagnosis or symptoms of allergies in a nationally representative sample of children in the US.
Finally, research on neurodevelopment is concerning. A 2026 study in Environ Res highlighted that halogenated flame retardants are linked to changes in thyroid function and traits related to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.
The research at a glance
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