Flame Retardant Rules Result of Deception, Says Investigation

The dangers of flame retardants have been understated and the benefits exaggerated, while groups promoting them may not be what they seem, according to the Chicago Tribune in a recent investigative series. In reviewing thousands of government, scientific, and internal industry documents, the Tribune found evidence of long-term deception on the part of chemical manufacturers, and the newspaper suggests that the original push to mandate fire-resistant furniture came from an unexpected source: the tobacco industry.