Emerging chemical contaminants.

The article presents the author's comments on emerging chemical contaminants. In September 2003, a study released by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit environmental research organization, caused a huge stir. Scientists working with EWG tested the breast milk of 20 women across the nation and found levels ranging from 9.5 to 1078 parts per billion of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). PBDEs are used as flame retardants for a wide variety of fabrics, draperies, clothing, and carpeting, and they are heavily used in the U.S., which has the world's toughest flame retardant standards. Undoubtedly, these chemicals save many lives by preventing fires, but the public has come to demand chemicals that do not move into the environment, their bodies, and their babies.