# The Pros and Cons of Flame-Retardant Babies **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 25, 2005, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pros-and-cons-of-flame-retardant-babies/318625 "2005-08-25T21:03:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pros-and-cons-of-flame-retardant-babies/318625/1 "2005-08-25T21:03:44Z")
As heard in recent news coverage:[ > [@](#): > > The report by the Environmental Working Group is based on tests of 10 samples of umbilical-cord blood taken by the American Red Cross. They found an average of 287 contaminants in the blood, including mercury, fire retardants, pesticides and the Teflon chemical PFOA. ]([http://english.epochtimes.com/news/5-7-28/30601.html](http://english.epochtimes.com/news/5-7-28/30601.html)) **Pro:** Hey! Flame-retardant babies! **Con:** A variety of cancers and other ailments. **Pro:** But hey! Flame-retardant babies! …That sort of does it for my list. Any others? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pros-and-cons-of-flame-retardant-babies/318625/2 "2005-08-25T21:15:42Z")
They are being bred for a future as a NASCAR professionsl . ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pros-and-cons-of-flame-retardant-babies/318625/3 "2005-08-25T21:20:44Z")
**CON:** longer roasting times. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pros-and-cons-of-flame-retardant-babies/318625/4 "2005-08-25T21:21:59Z")
> [@Hung Mung](#): > > **CON:** longer roasting times. [And you can’t dispose of them in the fireplace if they’re funny-looking](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=331775). ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pros-and-cons-of-flame-retardant-babies/318625/5 "2005-08-25T21:23:00Z")
**PRO:** we no longer have to hear women scream “My baby! My baby!” while their apartment buildings burn down. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pros-and-cons-of-flame-retardant-babies/318625/6 "2005-08-25T21:26:42Z")
Flame retardant’s nice, but it’s the Teflon aspects that intrigue me. A development like this could doom the baby wipes industry overnight. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pros-and-cons-of-flame-retardant-babies/318625/7 "2005-08-25T21:31:13Z")
From the maternal standpoint, a Teflon nonstick baby sure would feel a lot better slidin’ out. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pros-and-cons-of-flame-retardant-babies/318625/8 "2005-08-25T22:02:46Z")
> [@](#): > > and the Teflon chemical PFOA. \*\* PRO: \*\* The soylent green will be already non-stick ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pros-and-cons-of-flame-retardant-babies/318625/9 "2005-08-25T22:59:04Z")
**CON** : They get older. Flame retardant teenagers would be one of the most dangerous forces on earth.