OSAKA — High concentrations of a chemical compound widely used as a flame retardant have been detected in mother's milk and marine life in Japan, according to a study announced this week by Japanese researchers.
The levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) were far higher than anticipated by the team of scientists at Setsunan University in Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture, according to Soichi Ota, an associate professor and the study's lead researcher.
The team will report its findings today at a conference in Sapporo.