Technical Bulletin 117

Technical Bulletin 117 (TB117) is "a unique California flammability standard that requires polyurethane foam to withstand exposure to a small open flame for twelve seconds." It was first implemented in 1975. Until 2004, manufacturers met this requirement with, penta-brominated diphenyl ether (pentaBDE), a PBDE. In 1999, North America accounted for 98% of global pentaBDE usage, largely because of TB117. California banned PentaBDE in 2003, but toxic flame retardants continue to be used.

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Biosolids
 * Sewage sludge
 * Food Rights Network

External resources

 * Green Science Policy Institute

External articles

 * Arlene Blum, "Flame retardants, policy, and public health: past and present," 4th International Conference on the History of Occupational and Environmental Health, June 2010
 * Arlene Blum and Linda Birnbaum, "Halogenated Flame Retardants in Consumer Products: Do the Fire Safety Benefits Justify the Health and Environmental Risks?," 5th International Symposium on Brominated Flame Retardants, April 2010
 * Arlene Blum, "Killer Couch Chemicals," Huffington Post, August 16, 2007
 * Arlene Blum, "Chemical Burns," New York Times, November 19, 2006