Listen to today's Environment Report.
This week, we’re bringing you a series of stories about firefighters and cancer. Firefighters say they’re worried about getting exposed to certain kinds of toxic flame retardant chemicals. These chemicals are everywhere. They’re calledpolybrominateddiphenylethers orPBDEs. Firefighters are exposed to these chemicals in the line of duty, but they aren’t the only ones exposed.
For decades, these chemicals have been added to the foam in our couches, our chairs, and the padding underneath our carpets.
But they don’t stay put.
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