General information about Brominated flame retardants (BFRs)
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are organobromine compounds, which are produced synthetically, that have an inhibitory effect on combustion chemistry and tend to reduce the flammability of products containing them. Therefore, they are very present in the demolition and construction industry, which is important to take into account to recycle them when to are retired.
There are many different BFRs with widely varying chemical properties. In the commercial market, more than 75 different BFRs are recognised. However, the most common brominated flame retardant groups are the following:
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs): DecaBDE, OctaBDE, PentaBDE (the first BFR, commercialized in the 1950s)
- Polybrominated biphenyl (PBB)
- Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD or HBCDD). Because of its importance in the construction and demolition sector, this compound had its section in the EDI Special Publication 2021.
- Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA or TBBP-A)
Brominated flame retardants have routinely been added to consumer products for several decades in a successful effort to reduce fire-related injury and property damage, due to their high-perfor- mance efficiency and low cost.
In recent years, the EU has adopted legislation to reduce or halt the sale and use of certain BFRs to protect health and the environment. However, due to their persistence in the environment, there are still concerns about the risks these chemicals pose to public health, as they are known to be bioaccumulative and cause adverse effects on humans and wildlife.
Why are brominated flame retardants a hazardous substance?
In recent times, concern for these brominated flame retardants (BRFs) has risen due to the occurrence of several classes of them in the environment and human biota. There is strong evidence of increasing contamination of the environment, wildlife, and people with these substances. However, there is limited knowledge of potential effects; the toxicology database is very limited; and the current literature is incomplete and often conflicting. This heightens the importance of identifying emerging issues associated with the use of BFRs, as overall, available data, raise concern over the use of certain classes of brominated flame retardants.
BFR-treated products, whether in use or waste, leach BFRs into the environment and contaminate the air, soil and water. These contaminants may then enter the food chain where they mainly occur in food of animal origin, such as fish, meat, milk and derived products.
The human health effects include cryptor- chidism, alterations in thyroid hormone ho- homeostasis, reproductive effects, and reduced development of children at school age that include psychomotor development index and IQ performance.
Furthermore, it must be noted that brominated flame retardants are transplacentally and lactationally transferred.
Where can they be found?
Brominated flame retardants (BRFs) are used as additive or reactive components in a variety of polymers such as foam, high-impact polystyrene, and epoxy resins, which are then used in various commercial products such as computers, electronics and electrical equipment, textiles and furniture foam
However, the use depends on the type of BFR, the most important of which are as follows:
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs): plastics, textiles, electronic castings, circuitry
- Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs): consumer appliances, textiles, plastic foams
- Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDDs): thermal insulation in the construction industry
- Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and other phenols: printed circuit boards, thermoplastics (mainly in TVs)
Links:
This article can be found in the 2022 edition of the document. Find the full publication here:
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