Brominated flame retardant chemicals

The Brominated Flame Retardants Industry Panel (BFRIP) was formed ia 1985 within the Flame Retardant Chemicals Association (FRCA) to address such concerns about the use of decabromodiphenyl oxide. Siace 1990 the BFRIP has operated as a Chemical Self-Funded Technical Advocacy and Research (CHEMSTAR) panel within the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) (64). As of 1993, members of BFRIP are Ak2o, Amerihaas (Dead Sea Bromine Group), Ethyl Corp., and Great Lakes Chemical. Siace its formation, BFRIP has presented updates to iadustry on a regular basis (65,66), and has pubhshed a summary of the available toxicity information on four of the largest volume brominated flame retardants (67,68) tetrabromo bisphenol A, pentabromodiphenyl oxide, octabromodiphenyl oxide, and decabromodiphenyl oxide. This information supplements that summarized ia Table 11. 

In addition, the concern about e-waste not only focuses on its vast quantity generated daily, but also more on the need to handle the toxic chemicals embedded in it. It is well known that e-waste contains lead, beryllium, mercury, cadmium (Cd), and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) among other chemical materials [3]. Furthermore, highly toxic chemicals such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-furans (PBDD/Fs) can be formed during the recycling process [4]. 

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are comprised of diverse classes or chemical compounds used in a variety of commercial applications. They are used in plastics, textiles, electronic circuitry, and other materials to prevent fires. The estimated... 

The replacement of established chemistries with newer ones is one of the classic drivers of change in the chemical industry. One of the current hotbeds of this kind of change is the replacement of brominated flame retardants in polymer formulations. The brominated flame retardants under the most scrutiny have been polybrominated diphenyl ethers, particularly penta- and octabromodiphenyl ether, which have been shown to be persistent in the environment and to bioaccumulate. Great Lakes Chemical is voluntarily phasing out penta- and octa-BDEs by the end of next year. The phaseout is made possible by the clean bill of health granted by EPA for Firemaster 550, a replacement for penta-BDE in flexible PU applications. BRG Townsend claims the phaseout of penta-BDE and octa-BDE is not as earth shattering as would be an exit from deca-BDE, a styrenics additive that is produced in the highest volume of the PBDEs. 

A review is presented on European regulatory initiatives focussing on products containing chemicals, which are potential sources of environmentally hazardous materials. Particular attention is paid to brominated flame retardants in the light of the European Commission s official position in relation to the Precautionary Principle. 18 refs. EUROPEAN COMMISSION... 

It is not possible to achieve "adequate control" of the risks of persistent, bioaccumulative chemicals. The fact that traditional risk assessment cannot reasonably be applied to such chemicals, and that a revised PBT (persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic) assessment is necessary, is explicitly recognised in the EU s Technical Guidance Document for risk assessment. Their intrinsic properties mean that there is a high risk of exposure at sometime during the lifecycle of the chemical or the article that contains it. Even small releases, if they are continuous, can result in significant exposures. This is why we see significant and, in some cases, escalating levels of brominated flame retardants, nonylphenols and other persistent chemicals in breast milk, umbilical cord blood and human tissue. 

Electrolux is the world s largest producer of powered appliances for kitchen, cleaning and outdoors. They have created comprehensive Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for many of their product lines. Information within the product profiles details chemicals that have been banned as well as the percentage and types of materials and how they have improved material choices. Forexample, plastic components do not contain cadmium, lead, mercury or their compounds or chlorinated or brominated flame retardants metal components are not coated with cadmium, chromium, or nickel and metal paints do not contain pigments and additives based on heavy metals. Many Electrolux products are also PVC-free. 

The information was compiled from paper and on-line research and from direct phone conversations and meetings with industry representatives. The more comprehensive overview of case studies of company substitutions for brominated flame retardants demonstrates both the complexity and feasibility of implementing safer alternatives. Other case studies show how leading retailers are moving to phase-out hazardous materials and how some chemical industries are researching and implementing Green Chemistry alternatives. 

PVC plastic is the largest end user of phthalates and a significant end userfororganotins and brominated flame retardants with antimony. A phase out of PVC therefore directly reduces use of these hazardous constituents. Alternatives to PVC vary and must be assessed on their chemical profile. Greenpeace has charted the move to PVC alternatives over the last few years and has compiled an extensive database of PVC restrictions world-wide, which is available on line. ... 

Discussion with representatives of Great Lakes Chemical at EPA 9 conference on Brominated Flame Retardants, San Francisco, April 2003... 

Mariussen E, Fonnum F (2003) The effect of brominated flame retardants on neurotransmitter uptake into rat brain synaptosomes and vesicles. Neurochem Int. 43 533-542 Marshall KA (2003) Chlorocarbons and chlorohydrocarbons, survey. In Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. Wiley, 6 226-253. Available at http //www.mrw.interscience.wiley. com/emrw/9780471238966/search/firstpage... 

Meerts lA, van Zanden JJ, Luijks EA, van Leeuwen-Bol I, Marsh G, Jakobsson E, Bergman A, Brouwer A (2000) Potent competitive interaction of some brominated flame retardants and related compounds with human transthyretin in vitro. Toxicol Sci 56 95-104 Mengel K (1985) Dynamics and availability of major nutrients in soils. Adv Soil Sci 2 67-134 Mercer JW, Cohen RM (1990) A review of immiscible fluids in the subsurface Properties, models, characterization, and remediation. J Contam Hydrol 6 107-163 Mertens JA (2000) Trichloroethylene. In Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. Wiley New York. Available at http //www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/emrw/9780471238966/ kirk/article/tricmert.aOl/current/pdf... 

Risk avoidance often faces conflicts in objectives. In this way substance innovations for improved fire and explosion protection in the second half of the last century also made a major contribution to many environmental and health risks discussed today CFCs, PCB, chlorinated solvents, brominated flame retardants and also cutting oils in emulsion form must be mentioned at this point. This means that chemical/technical innovation originally aimed to achieve more operational safety. Additional improvements related to environmental or health aspects were not taken into account at the time of the innovation. 

The POCs include, but are certainly not limited to the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and the organochlorine pesticides, including those in current use, restricted use and historic use brominated flame retardants including polybrominated diphenyl ethers PAHs and the sometimes more toxic transformation products of these chemicals. Table 1 summarizes information on some of the POCs more commonly detected in alpine environments. 

Tomy G, Tittlemier S, Braekevelt E, et al. 2001. Hie physio-chemical properties of some brominated flame retardants. BFR 229-232. 

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are added to many consumer and commercial products to prevent these products from burning even if they have been exposed to a spark or a smoldering cigarette. BFRs are added to polyurethane foam that is used in furniture found in most homes and offices to commercial fabrics used in, for example, auditorium seating and to carpeting. BFRs certainly save lives by preventing large fires, but some of these chemicals have become environmentally ubiquitous. 

When considering for which contaminants it is relevant to lay down maximum limits in relevant foods, some contaminants, which have so far been unnoticed or may have been disregarded, will become pertinent. Improved chemical methods of analysis help to identify and quantify contaminants that may be or become of concern, such as brominated flame-retardants. 

Sudaryanto, A., Isobe, T., Takahashi, S., Tanabe, S., 2006a. Brominated flame retardants in the environment of Indonesia. Proceedings of 232nd American Chemical Society National Meeting Exposition, Division of Environmental Chemistry, 46(2), 1160-1165. San Francisco, CA, September 10-14, 2006. 

In addition to OCs, PBDEs, the popular brominated flame retardants, are now a worldwide problem even in remote areas, and Asia-Pacific region is surely no exception (Ikonomou et al., 2002 Birnbaum and Staskal, 2004 Ueno et al., 2004). PBDEs are structurally similar to PCBs and DDT and, therefore, their chemical properties, persistence and distribution in the environment follow similar patterns. Studies on the environmental behavior of PBDEs are chiefly derived from Europe, North America and the Arctic. Despite the usage of vast amounts of these compounds in Asia-Pacific region, there is a paucity of data on the prevalence of PBDEs in Asian environment. Studies are necessary to identify Asian sources of PBDEs as well as to quantify emissions and document their potential environmental fate in this region. 

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