New research suggests that exposure to a common flame retardant is associated with attention problems in children ages 3 through 7.

Researchers from Columbia University found that prenatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which are found in plastics, wiring, and furniture containing polyurethane foam to reduce flammability, have adverse affects on human development.

Since PBDEs are not chemically bound to these materials, they migrate into the environment over time. Humans are commonly exposed to the chemicals through accidental ingestion of house dust and by eating meat, dairy, and fatty fish with accumulated PBDEs. While PBDEs were phased out in 2004, they remain ubiquitous in the environment.

"These findings reinforce the decision to phase-out the use of PBDEs in consumer products and support the need to develop programs for safely disposing of products containing PBDEs that are still in use," Julie Herbstman, senior author of the study and assistant professor of Environmental Health Sciences, said in a statement.

For the study, researchers collected and analyzed data from more than 200 mother-child pairs from birth through early childhood. This cohort was established following the September 11, 2001 attack and designed to examine the effects of exposure to dust, smoke, and fumes on child development. Beginning at age 3, researchers assessed child behavior using a standardized rating scale, repeating the test ever year through age 7. Cord blood samples were analyzed for PBDEs to assess prenatal exposure to the chemicals.

At ages 3, 4, and 7 years, children with the highest exposure to certain PBDEs had approximately twice the number of maternally-reported attention problems compared to the other children in the study.

Results support previous peer-reviewed epidemiological studies reporting associations between prenatal PBDE exposure and symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity among children.

The findings are detailed in the journal Neurotoxicology and Teratology.