In what may be an unintended consequence of efforts to make furniture safer and less flammable, residents of California have blood levels of potentially toxic flame retardants called PBDEs at levels nearly twice the national average, scientists from Massachusetts and California are reporting.

According to a new study, knowledge of potentially toxic household substances among primary caregivers for young children is alarmingly poor. The results show that less than one-third of primary caregivers for children under the age of six could correctly estimate the toxicity of household poisons.

The TXFOAM project, initiated by GAIA (the Association of Information Technologies’ Industries in the Basque Country), ESTIA (École Supérieure des Technologies Industrielles Avancées) and the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), has managed to identify a new material which is less toxic and is a recyclable alternative to the foam currently used in the manufacture of surfboards.

Researchers from CRC CARE are pioneering a world-first technology to warn people if their local water or air is contaminated with dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals and metal-like substances.

The safety of medical devices such as surgical equipment or implants is to be significantly improved after the adoption of a proposal by the European Commission, today by the European Parliament. There will be stricter rules for the use of potentially toxic materials, for which adequate labelling will be required. Furthermore the safe single use of devices is enhanced.