The state Departments of Consumer Protection, Public Health and Energy and Environmental Protection on Wednesday warned parents and others purchasing children’s products to avoid any product containing one of three flame-retardant chemicals that the Environmental Protection Agency and the state agencies have identified as highly toxic.

The warning is part of an increased effort on the part of the three state agencies to educate the public on toxic chemicals found in children’s products.

One of the chemicals, Tris- (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TDCPP), previously was removed from children’s sleepwear in the 1970s because of cancer concerns, the agencies said in a news release. Despite continued cancer concerns, it is still widely used in products designed for young children, including crib bumpers, changing table pads and children’s foam padded sleep mats, according to the release.

Tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), a related Tris flame retardant, and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), a flame retardant that can build up in a child’s body over time and potentially affect the endocrine system and brain development, are the other two flame retardants that have been identified as being of high concern for continued wide use in children’s products, the agencies said. TCEP is found in many of the same products as TDCPP. HBCD can be found in some children’s car seats and soft furniture.

When shopping for these children’s products, consumers should ask retailers about the presence of these chemicals, check product labels and consult manufacturers if necessary.

Detailed information on the three chemicals and toxic substances in children’s products can be found on a new webpage created by DCP and DPH: bit.ly/CTtoxins.

“The scientific and medical communities’ understanding of the risks to health, especially for young developing children, posed by flame retardants continues to evolve and we are proud to work with our sister agencies to educate the public on the dangers of these chemicals to young children,” state Public Health Commissioner Dr. Raul Pino said. “We want parents and others to make informed, safe choices when purchasing products for their children.”

State Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle Seagull said her agency is working to ensure children are protected from products that pose health risks.

“We are pleased to join with our sister agencies to highlight chemicals of concern in children’s products,” she said. “This effort is just one step forward in supporting the marketplace as it works to find safe alternatives for these children’s products.”

DEEP’s Deputy Commissioner of Environmental Quality, Bob Kaliszewski, said DEEP is working on ensuring the toxic chemicals are properly regulated and disposed of.

“DEEP is also committed to making certain that the use of chemicals in manufacturing processes is properly regulated, and ensuring compliance with requirements limiting the discharge of chemicals into our air, water, or lands,” he said.

The educational campaign announced by DPH, DCP and DEEP grew out of a provision in the state’s Child Protection Act requiring the state to inform the public about potential dangers associated with children’s products, the agencies said. Previous educational campaigns in Connecticut have focused on children’s exposure to arsenic in pressure-treated wood, infant ingestion of bisphenol A from baby bottles and the safe consumption of fish during pregnancy. The current effort increases the focus on emerging contaminants in children’s products.