Safety measure can be complicated and can be linked to other safety issue. After having deaths due to house fire, some countries and states require flammable furniture to be treated with flame retardant. Implementing these measures means a lot of expenses on testing, implementing and enforcing these rules. What do we know years later; hardly any real effect of house fires, but we are getting toxins in our house and bodies. An interesting article from the NY times last year:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/09/magazine/arlene-blums-crusade-against-household-toxins.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
We need to be aware what kind of measure we are taking to protect our selves and what the possible side effects are. A lot of times a very obvious solution of a problem, does have unintended side effects. This does not only apply to flame retardant, but many other 'solutions' as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment