Polybrominated flame retardants PBFRs

Polybrominated flame retardants are in extensive use in modem society as additives in many products, e.g. computers, other electronic equipment, furniture, cars, construction materials, sealings, etc. They are lipophilic substances with differing Kow and differing persistence, many of them characterized by very high bioavailability and bioconcentration factors. 

In a future perspective, the PBFRs impose a great threat to the environment by being produced, used and distributed in large amounts, being globally transported and expressing bioaccumulative and adverse toxic properties of the same kind as 

The production and spread of chlorinated insecticides started in the 1940s and culminated in the 1960s. The group consists of many different and diverse 

Preparations containing DDT were in general use in many parts of the world as effective insecticides in different applications until the 1970s, when it was banned in many countries and the use and spread declined. As a result of this, levels in biota have declined as well. It is, however, still in use in tropical areas as an effective weapon against malaria and sometime new releases are detected in different parts of 

Other important cyclodiene insecticides are chlordane, endrin and endosulphan. These substances do not fulfil all the criteria of envirotoxicants previously mentioned and, although causing environmental harm, are considered to be of less environmental concern. 

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Figure 3.5 Examples of polybrominated flame retardants (PBFRs).

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