An online screening and virtual chatroom of Toxic Hot Seat, a documentary from film makers James Redford and Kirby Walker that tells the story of toxic flame retardants and how they've gotten into our homes and bodies, is open for viewing.

While the public can stream the film anytime this week, the Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine will be hosting a virtual chatroom at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2 so viewers can discuss the film while they watch.

The film follows group of firefighters and mothers, journalists and scientists, politicians and activists (including Maine's Hannah Pingree) as they fight to expose a shadowy campaign of manipulation and misinformation.

CineSource Magazine has called the film, "revealing, horrifying, infuriating, compelling, and hopeful."

Safer Chemicals Healthy Families will be screening Toxic Hot Seat online and free from Monday, Dec. 1 through Sunday, Dec. 7.

The link to stream the film can be accessed here: bit.ly/1v40Q0U. Once signed up, viewers will be given a password that will enable them to access the film all week long.

Participants in the chatroom will learn about toxic chemicals, the risks of exposure and harm, and what they can do to protect their health and their families.

The chatroom is free and open to the public as well as to members of the media. The chatroom can be accessed through the following link: bit.ly/toxichotseatwatchparty.

Jenny Rottman of the Environmental Strategy Center, who is pregnant with her second child said: "If you think your living room furniture is safe for your kids, think again. Two years ago, when I was pregnant with my son Abe, I was shocked to learn that my sofa was filled with dangerous chemicals that are supposed to act as flame retardants.

But as Toxic Hot Seat reveals, these chemicals are not only ineffective at preventing fires, they are also putting our families and our firefighters at greater risk for life-threatening cancer. This film left me frustrated that Congress still has not taken meaningful action to fix our nation's broken chemical safety system, but it does offer hope for what moms can do when we come together to protect our kids."

John Martell, president of the Professional Firefighters of Maine said, "Firefighters face many risks and we accept that as part of our job. But it's unacceptable that over half of the line-of-duty deaths for firefighters are actually due to cancer. We know this is because of our exposure to brominated flame retardants. We need to do more to make our houses safer for our families and for firefighters."

Participants in the chatroom will include:

Emma Halas O'Connor, Environmental Health Strategy Center; Kathy Kilrain del Rio, Maine Women's Policy Center; Karen d'Andrea, Physicians for Social Responsibility; and Sandra Cort, Learning Disabilities Association of Maine.