Brominated Flame Retardants BFRs

BFRs are compounds widely used to impart fire retardant properties to textiles, plastics and electronic equipment. They are incorporated into many household products including children s pajamas, upholstery fabrics, polyurethane foams (furniture cushion padding), construction materials, electrical equipment, and personal computers. 

Aliphatic hydrocarbons Amine epoxy catalysts Ammonia Chlorine 

These compounds serve as flame retardants because the relatively weak carbon-bromine bonds in them are readily broken when heated. Thermal energy releases bromine radicals that couple with carbon radicals produced in fires to decrease flame sizes, thereby reducing heat and lowering carbon monoxide production. 15 They are similar in structure to PCBs and are resistant to environmental degradation. 

The PBDEs are of particular concern. They are incorporated into polymer matrices, but are not covalently bonded and readily leach out of substrates holding them. These compounds are similar in structure to PCBs, are persistent organic polluters (POPs), and are resistant to environmental degradation and metabolism. They can be absorbed via inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact. The less-brominated PBDE species (tetra-, penta-, and hexa- moieties) have been found in human blood, adipose tissue, and breast milk. These bioaccumulate in human adipose tissues. 16  

Many PBDE mixtures are banned by the European Union, but are still in use in the United States. As a result, PBDE levels in breast milk from North American mothers is at least an order of magnitude higher than that in breast milk from European women. 17  

---

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]. 

The importance of assessing human and environmental impacts caused by emissions of metals and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) has been growing in... 

PBDEs are a class of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) used in textiles, plastics and electronic products. The effects of BFRs are associated with three commercial mixtures of PBDEs decaBDE, octaBDE and pentaBDE. In laboratory animal experiments, the toxicity of PBDEs was linked to damage to liver function and,... 

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... 

Nokia, the world s largest manufacturer of mobile phones, has committed to phasing out brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and PVC plastic. Chicco, a manufacturer of toys and baby products, will eliminate the use of PVC within threeyears small amounts of this plastic are still used in components, accessories and packaging. 

The term brominated flame retardant (BFR) incorporates more than 175 different types of substances, which form the largest class of flame retardants other classes are phosphorus-containing, nitrogen-containing, and inorganic flame retardants (Bimbaum and Sttaskal 2004). The major BFR substances in use today (depicted in Fig. 4.6) are tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), and mixtures of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) (namely, deca-bromodiphenyl ether (DBDE), octabromodiphenyl ether (OBDE), and pentabro-modiphenyl ether (pentaBDE)). 

Gallet G, Perez G, Karlsson S. 2001. Two approaches for extraction and analysis of brominated flame retardants (BFR) and their degradation products in recycled polymers and BFR containing water. 

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. 

Fig. 2.10. Worldwide Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs) consumption Americas, Europe, Asia and Global consumption in 1999 (www.bsef.com), Japan in 1999 and 2001 (Watanabe and Sakai, 2003), and Korea in 2003 (KMOE, 2005c). Korea s values are not consumed but imported amounts. However, the consumption amount is estimated to be similar with this pattern (see the text).

The main types of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are polybromin-ated biphenyls (PBBs), PBDEs, and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA). PBDEs have replaced PBBs, which are the first brominated organic compounds to be used as flame retardants and were phased out because of environmental issues, but are now being replaced by TBBPA (Renner, 2000). The global consumption of BFRs is estimated to be 203425 tons in 1999 with PBDEs accounting for 33% (Fig. 2.10). Deca-BDEs, 82% of total PBDEs, are the most widely used product. Domestic BFR consumption in South Korea in 2002 was 49050 tons, of which 25% (i.e., 12408 tons) was PBDEs with deca-BDE accounting for 12324 tons and penta- and octa-BDEs accounting for 84 tons (KMOE, 2005c). Imported amounts of each product in 2003 showed a similar distribution to the consumption estimated in 2002 (Fig. 2.10). In BFR market of Western Europe, consumption of PBDEs has declined from 26% in 1996 to 11% in 1998 (DEPA, 1999). Penta-BDEs product has been restricted for over one decade and is now banned within Europe. Furthermore, there has... 

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are an interesting and important group of chemicals that are widely incorporated into plastics, foams, electrical items and furnishings to reduce the risk of Are. Indeed, it is likely that the polyurethane foam used in an upholstered chair in which you maybe sitting, will have been treated with a BFR in order to conform to fire-safety standards. However, their widespread use, release... 

Both HBCD and PBDEs are examples of brominated flame retardants (BFRs). The recent growth in the number of scientific papers addressing the environmental presence and impacts of such chemicals has been quite phenomenonal. In a similar vein, there has been a dramatic rise in concerns related to the environmental presence and impacts of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs). Chapters 2 and 3 thus address current knowledge and research... 

We next discuss this conceptual model as it applies to PCBs and brominated flame retardants (BFRs). PCBs have been discussed in Chapters 5,6 and 7 and BFRs are the focus of Chapter 2. 

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are a structurally diverse group of compounds including aromatics, cyclic aliphatics, phenolic derivatives, ahphatics, and phthahc anhydride derivatives (Figure 31.3). The most common BFRs are tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), and polybrominated biphenyls (PBB). The primary use of TBBPA is as reactive additive in epoxy resin circuit boards, while decabromodiphenyloxide (DBDO) is primarily used in high impact polystyrene for electronic enclosures. PBDEs are typically used as the additive type of flame retardant in high impact polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, flexible polyurethane foam, textile coatings, wire and cable insulation and electrical connectors. 

Brominated flame retardents (BFRs) can accumulate to the environment and have been found in water, biota, soil and sediment. Several BFRs undergo photochemical reactions by UV radiation, and therefore, various reaction products of the BFRs can also be found in the environment. ... 

For more than half a century, brominated flame retardants (BFRs), often combined with synergists such as Sb203, have been used to reduce the risk of fire in clothing. S ome of them have been listed on Annex XVn (REACH) for restriction (see Table 1.2) or Annex XIV (REACH) for authorization (see Table 1.3). HBCD (hexabromocy-clododecane) and deca-BDE (decabromodiphenylelher) are submitted to notification requirements because they are listed as substances of very high concern (SVHCs). HBCD is on Annex XIV (a list of substances proposed for authorization) in REACH, the so-called sunset date for HBCD is August 21,2015. After this date only authorized uses of HBCD will be allowed in Europe. 

---