Photochemistry of Brominated Flame Retardants BFRs

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 

Generic structure of the polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) and the structure of tetrabrominated bisphenol-A (TBBPA). Note the x and y on the PBDE structure represent the number of bromine atoms around each phenyl ring (where x = 1-5 andy = 1-5). The maximum number of 5 bromine atoms on each ring results in the fully brominated, decabrominated diphenyl ether 

It is estimated that worldwide demand for TBBPA in 2001 was some 120,000 tonnes and concern over this chemical (and related phenols) has arisen due to its occurrence in sewage sludge, aquatic sediments and fish. 

From Eriksson et courtesy of the American Chemical Society 

Bmchet, C. Hochereau, C. Picard, V. Deottignies, J.M. Rodrigues and M.L. Janex-Habibi, Water Sci. TechnoL, 2005, 52, 53-61. 

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