Can flame retardant chemicals pass through breast milk to your baby?

What's actually in it

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are chemicals used as flame retardants and plasticizers in furniture foam, electronics, textiles, and building materials. They've replaced older brominated flame retardants in many products. Nursing mothers absorb OPEs through household dust, food packaging, and skin contact with treated products.

Because these chemicals dissolve in fat, they can concentrate in breast milk, which is naturally high in fat. That means a nursing baby receives a dose with every feeding.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environ Int analyzed breast milk samples from mothers across China. The researchers tested for both the parent OPE chemicals and their metabolites, the breakdown products that form in the body.

Both parent compounds and metabolites were widely detected. The most common OPEs found were TCEP, TCIPP, and TDCIPP, all used in foam furniture and electronics. Their metabolites confirmed that mothers' bodies were actively processing these chemicals.

The study calculated estimated daily intake for breastfed infants. For some chemicals, the amounts approached or exceeded levels that health agencies consider safe for babies. Newborns are especially vulnerable because their livers can't break down chemicals as efficiently as adults.

Breastfeeding still offers enormous benefits. But mothers can reduce OPE levels in their milk by improving indoor air quality, using HEPA-filtered vacuums, choosing furniture without added flame retardants, and washing hands before meals.