A flame retardant that was phased out of use but is still present in older furnishings is linked to lower birth weights in newborns of women exposed to it during pregnancy, a new study suggests. Evaluating levels of PBDEs -- or polybrominated diphenyl ethers -- in blood samples of 286 pregnant women, researchers from the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health found that every 10-fold increase was tied to a 4.1-ounce drop in the birth weight of their babies.
