Abstract
Flame retardants (Fr) are chemical compounds used from the 80's or the 90's (in the Czech republic) of the 20th century as a part of polymers of plastic materials to decrease risks of fire. From the chemical point of view flame retardants can be divided into several groups - inorganic flame retardants (approximately 50% of all Fr) aren't riskant for the human health and environment.
Organic flame retardants due to their chemical structure and containing halogens and phosphorus are more riskant for the environment and the human health. nowadays we can find these compounds in all parts of environment, they are released during their production, during life of products and also during degradation of products. Organic flame retardants are lipophilic pollutants with the ability to accumulate in water sediments.
To the human body Fr are transported by inhalation and ingestion and they are accumulated in tissues containing higher ratio of fat, especially in the white adipose tissue and during higher metabolic rate they can be released from adipocytes, for example during lactation. In the blood they use as carrier particles blood plasma proteins using their similar structure with thyroidal hormones and that's why we are speaking about endocrine disruptors with negative influence to the hormonal regulation.
Toxicity of some flame retardants was described in populations of animals (rats), concentrations of Fr in environment are low for people but to decrease potential risks for the human health using of some of them was prohibited by the Stockholm convention.