Exposure to Hazardous Flame Retardant Chemicals in Camping Tents and Assessment of Potential Alternatives

Are the chemicals applied to your camping tent to protect you from fire actually harming you and the environment? Commercially available camping tents are required to meet a flammability standard, which is most often done through application of flame retardant chemicals. Many flame retardant chemicals have been demonstrated to leach from products, accumulate in people, persist in the environment and, potentially, have toxic effects on humans and wildlife. In this study, we measured human exposure to flame retardants in camping tents through experimental simulations using five leading brands of backpacking tents. Data collected from this exposure study and from the published literature on toxicity and hazard were then used to formulate a guide for industry that can be used to help them make more informed decisions about the use of flame retardants in their products.