Fire Safety and Chemicals in Our Clothing

May 3, 2015
Has lesson plan

There are over 80,000 chemicals in use today. The story of Tris, a fire retardant that was once used to treat children’s pajamas, but was banned as a carcinogen in the 1970s, illustrates the challenge of regulating chemicals.

In 1977, the federal government banned the use of a flame retardant, Tris, in children’s pajamas because it was suspected to cause kidney cancer in humans. But Tris continued to be used in a host of other products, including cribs, car seats and upholstery.

The use and regulation of flame retardants is a longstanding debate among federal and state legislators. Today, there are no specific tests required before a new chemical can enter the market.

For teachers
  • Producer: Jill Rosenbaum
  • Editor: Anne Alvergue
  • Reporter: Olivia Katrandjian
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For Educators

Subjects
Topics
1970s Health
Introduction

This 13-minute video examines the 1977 federal ban on the use of Tris in children’s apparel, a flame retardant suspected to cause kidney cancer in humans. However, Tris continued to be used in a host of other products, including cribs, car seats and furniture.

The lesson plan provided is ideal for high school chemistry students but includes modifications for grades 7-8.

Lesson Plan 1: Fire Safety and Chemicals in Our Clothing
Fire Safety and Chemicals in Our Clothing
Fire Safety and Chemicals in Our Clothing
Middle School
Overview
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Students will analyze how the chemical and physical properties of a substance affect its potential applications in our industrialized society.

Objectives
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Students will:

  • Extract relevant information from a Safety Data Sheet to justify a scientific argument
  • Assess the effect certain chemical and physical properties have on the application of certain chemicals
  • Make a recommendation to a children’s clothing company for a flame retardant to treat their products. Present your recommendation to a group of stakeholders.
Essential questions
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  • How can the chemical and physical properties of a substance be used to determine its potential applications?
  • How can the Safety Data Sheet (S.D.S.) be used to inform corporate decision making?
  • How does the audience affect the construction of a presentation?
Additional resources
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Standards
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  • Next Generation Science Standards
    • MS-PS1-1Substances are made from different types of atoms, which combine with one another in various ways. Atoms form molecules that range in size from two to thousands of atoms.
    • MS-PS-2&3Each pure substance has characteristic physical and chemical properties (for any bulk quantity under given conditions) that can be used to identify it.
    • HS-PS1-3The structure and interactions of matter at the bulk scale are determined by electrical forces within and between atoms.
    • Science and Engineering Practices
      • Analyzing & interpreting data
      • Engaging in argument from evidence
      • Obtaining, evaluating and communicating information
  • National Council for the Social Studies C3 Framework
    • D3.1.6-8.Gather relevant information from multiple sources while using the origin, authority, structure, context, and corroborative value of the sources to guide the selection.
    • D3.3.6-8.Identify evidence that draws information from multiple sources to support claims, noting evidentiary limitations
    • D4.1.6-8.Construct arguments using claims and evidence from multiple sources, while acknowledging the strengths and limitations of the arguments.
    • D4.1.9-12.Construct arguments using precise and knowledgeable claims, with evidence from multiple sources, while acknowledging counterclaims and evidentiary weaknesses.