Use and Regulation of Flame Retardants in Textiles

Many textile products contain flame retardants to meet flammability or fire safety standards. Flame retardants (FR) inhibit or slow down fire, and thus fulfil a vital role: nobody wants their bed or couch to catch fire and result in flashover. However, research indicates that not all flame retardants may be safe. Some are not chemically bound, which means they may be released from the product and absorbed into the bodies of consumers. Some flame retardants have been found to be toxic, bioaccumulative, or persistent. They can be hazardous for the immune, reproductive, endocrine, or nervous systems, particularly in developmental stages. These health and environmental concerns have resulted in several countries either banning or restricting the use of specific flame retardants.