Blum publishes a landmark study showing a common flame retardant in children’s sleepwear is carcinogenic, prompting regulatory removal.
In 1977 (exact day not documented), Arlene Blum published a groundbreaking scientific paper identifying a widely used flame retardant in children’s pajamas as toxic and a likely carcinogen. Working as a biophysical chemist, she analyzed tris(2,3‑dibromopropyl) phosphate, demonstrating that the chemical could mutate DNA and thus posed serious long‑term health risks.
Blum’s research came at a time when chemical safety regulation was still limited and public understanding of environmental carcinogens was emerging. Her study received broad media attention and quickly reached policymakers, including the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Within a short period, her findings helped lead to federal action removing the carcinogenic flame retardant from children’s sleepwear, protecting millions of children from daily exposure.
This publication is historically significant because it illustrates how rigorous laboratory science can directly influence consumer-product regulation. As a young woman scientist in a largely male field, Blum had to overcome skepticism and institutional resistance to get her work recognized and acted upon. Her success established her as a leading voice in environmental health and set the stage for her later role in founding the Green Science Policy Institute, which continues to connect peer‑reviewed research to policies that reduce toxic chemicals in everyday products.