Flame retardants are widely used in polymers and textiles and are used in electronic equipment, construction materials, and furniture to help prevent fires from starting and to slow progression. Laboratory studies and real-world fire statistics confirm that flame retardants have an important role in preventing the initiation and propagation of fires. The article presents the risk benefit equation, using tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), the most widely used brominated flame retardant to illustrate this discussion.1Source: Benefit versus risk associated with the use of brominated flame retardants