Banned flame retardants continue to accumulate in the St. Lawrence River and the whales and fish that live there

A study showed that an endangered population of beluga whales in the St. Lawrence River had one of the world's highest concentrations of the flame retardant, PBDE, in their blubber. (Shutterstock)

Flame retardants are added to a variety of products to prevent or slow the spread of fire. They have been added to many consumer and industrial products, including building materials, plastics, polyurethane-based foams in furniture, textiles and automotive parts, and electrical and electronic devices. They’re even in your iPhone.

Unfortunately, these product requirements are often poor predictors of actual fire risks and frequently lead to the misuse of these toxic chemicals.