Restrictions or Prohibitions of Some Brominated Flame Retardants

Restrictions or Prohibitions of Some Brominated Flame Retardants 

Use of some of the flame retardants, particularly brominated ones (PBDEs, or poly-brominated diphenyl esters), was prohibited by European Union Risk Assessment program. Among them were pentabromodiphenyl ether (pentaBDE), which was used primarily in polyurethane foam, and octabromodiphenyl ether (octaBDE), used mainly in electrical and electronic equipment and automobiles (both were prohibited by EU in August, 2004). In the United States, production of pentaBDE was ceased in 2004 and its mannfacture and import into the United States is prohibited. Octa-BDE was schednled to be prohibited in 2006 in a number of states in the United States 

Decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) was recognized as safe, with no need for risk rednction measnres both in the United States and Europe [9], though CDC lists it as a possible human carcinogen. Currently, under the investigation by EU are the following flame retardants TBBPA (tetrabromobisphenol-A), HBCD (hexabro-mocyclododecane), TCEP [tris(2-chloroethyl)ethyl)phosphate], TCPP [tris(2-chloropropyOphosphate], TDCP [tris(2-chloro-l-(chloromethyl)ethyl) phosphate], 

FLAMMABILITY AND FIRE RATING OF WOOD-PLASTIC COMPOSITES 

It looks like, however, that the safe status of decaBDE might be soon reconsidered. Recent researches have shown that microorganisms present in North American and Enropean soil break down relatively stable decaBDE into octaBDE and then pentaBDE, both toxic. These microorganisms were identified as Sulfurospirillum and Dehalococcoides [10]. 

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