Current Studies at Motherisk: Environmental Exposures and Children's Health

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are chemicals added to many products to make them less likely to catch fire. They are used in many products that are found in the home or at work such as TVs, computers, kitchen appliances, carpets and furniture. BFRs can shed from these products and gather in dust. These chemicals may have undesirable qualities that may have the ability to interfere with hormones, which are important for proper growth and development.

We are interested in how much of these chemicals mothers and their children were exposed to during pregnancy and early in postnatal life, and if mother and children exposure levels are similar.

The study is open to mothers with healthy sons, who were born with no birth defects, between the ages of 6 to 18 months. It involves filling out an anonymous questionnaire and to provide a hair sample from mom and if possible from your son. You will not be required to come to SickKids, all instructions and information will be mailed to you.

For further information or if you have any questions, please contact the research coordinator Amanda at amanda.carnevale@sickkids.ca or 416-813-7709. (Please leave your name, phone number, and the best time to reach you in the message)