"New Flame Retardant Threat Documented In Great Lakes"

"A flame retardant has been discovered in sediment of the Great Lakes for the first time, and researchers say it may be here to stay.

Researchers sampled sediment from lakes Michigan, Ontario and Superior to track organophosphate esters, a group of chemicals that are used as flame retardants.  All three locations showed that the concentration of one of them—TCPP—has increased rapidly since 2000. It has replaced a more toxic flame retardant that was phased out.

TCPP does not degrade easily in the environment, said An Li, a professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Illinois in Chicago. It contains chlorine which prevents it from degrading to simpler molecules."

Lucy Schroeder reports for the Great Lakes Echo March 21, 2017.