Overview of Brominated Flame Retardants

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Overview of Brominated Flame Retardants

• Leif Magnuson
• EPA Region 9 P2 Coordinator
• magnuson.leif_at_epa.gov [phone]

2
Outline

• What are BFRs?
• What is the basis for concern?
• How are they regulated?

3
Historical Perspective

• Past more products were wood and metal
• Now numerous products are plastic or other
  petroleum-derived materials that are more
  flammable.
• High standards for flame retardancy (esp.,CA)
• Additives needed to prevent plastics, foams, and
  other new materials from burning so fast.
• BFRs save lives (e.g., gives people more time to
  get out of the building)

4
BFRs Dozens of Chemicals with Very Different
Properties

• Brominated
• bisphenols
• diphenylethers
• cyclododecane
• biphenyls (no longer produced)
• phenols
• phthalates
• phenoxy ethanes
• others

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How BFRs Work
Br-
H
HBr
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BFRs of Recent Concern
Polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDE)
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)
Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA)
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Major Uses
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Product Examples

• Home
• Couch, bed, chairs, television, stereo, hair
  dryer, iron, microwave oven, video, e-toys,
  carpets, curtains, lamp shades, water heater,
  wires, switches . . .

Office Computer casings, circuit boards, wires
and cables, carpets, copy and fax machines,
printers, switches, sockets, plastic insulation,
moulding fillers, laminates, epoxy resins,
lighting . . .
Travel Cars, trucks, buses, airplanes, tents . . .
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Use in the Americas (2001 est.)
Highly bioaccumulative
BSEF, 2003
86-99 of total PBDE congeners found in human
tissues are present in this product.
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Basis for Concern

• Increasing concentrations of BFRs (mainly PBDEs)
  in the environment, humans and wildlife.
• European Union ban/phase out of certain PBDEs
• Toxicity concerns, such as
• endocrine disruption (PBDE, TBBPA, HBCD)
• dioxin formation (PBDE, TBBPA, HBCD)
• altered behavior and learning (PBDE)
• inadequate testing for suspected sensitive
  endpoints (cancer, brain development,
  sensitization)

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PBDEs and Other BFRs are Released in the
Environment

• How? not well understood
• Billions of point sources
• PBDEs measured in
• Indoor and outdoor air, office dust
• Rivers and lakes
• Sewage sludge
• Foods
• Biota (terrestrial and marine mammals, fish,
  humans)

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PBDEs Relate to Several Important Topics of the
Day(i.e., warranting special attention)

• Childrens Health
• Endocrine Disruption
• Persistent Organic Pollutant (POPs)
• Emerging Environmental Challenge
• High Production Volume (HPV) Chemical

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What are Trends in Regulation of PBDEs

• Regulations and Bans Appearing
• Increased Reporting Requirements and Monitoring
  Programs
• Interest in PBDE-free Purchasing

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Trends in PBDE Regulations

• EU countries banning certain compounds
• U.S. Reporting Requirements
• California State Ban
• Voluntary Actions

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Europe

• Will ban penta and octa across the EU 8/15/04
• Risk assessment completed July, 2002, Risk
  Reduction Strategy imminent
• Risk Assessments for TBBPA and HBCD in draft and
  out for comment

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U.S. EPA Actions on BFRs

• 3 BFRs included Toxic Release Inventory
• Decabromodiphenyl oxide
• Vinyl Bromide
• TBBPA added to TRI in 2000 as PBT

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U.S. EPA Actions

• Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA),
  EPA can require testing of certain chemicals.
• TBBPA and Several PBDEs have been subject to
  Section 4 Test Rules and Voluntary Testing
  Programs.

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U.S. EPA Actions

• Voluntary Testing of 3 BFRs under the Voluntary
  Childrens Chemical Evaluation Program (VCCEP)
• Deca-BDE
• Penta-BDE
• Octa-BDE
• Peer consultations held in 03
• Reports, data needs, risk
• assessments pending

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U.S. EPA Actions

• SNUR
• BFRs part of all flame retardant chemicals to be
  evaluated under significant New Use Rule.
• SNUR driven by California and CPSC proposed
  residential furniture standards.
• Likely to cover only FRs used in fabric, but FRs
  used in foam are possible candidates.
• Could require more tox. data/risk assessments

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U.S. EPA Actions

• HAPS PBDEs included in the list of compounds
  comprising Polycyclic Organic Matter in April
  2002. No further action is planned.
• Considering PBDEs as pollutants of concern in
  Great Lakes and Chesepeake Bay

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California State Activities

• AB302 Bill to ban penta and OctaBDE in 2008 has
• passed legislature,
• awaiting governors
• signature
• Air Monitoring
• DTSC testing leaching potential
• of electronic products
• More stringent fire standards

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Voluntary Actions

• Several European Eco-labels prohibit BFRs in
  electronics (Nordic Swan, TCO)
• American groups promoting purchasing BFR-free
  electronics
• SVTC
• Materials for the Future developing green
  purchasing guidelines for electronics
• Industry Responding

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Voluntary Actions - Electronics

• Select Electronics mfgs. working on alternatives.
• NEC Declared that they would not procure parts
  containing BFRs. Have phased out of BFRs as of
  September 2, 2002
• Fujitsu Developed halogen-free insulating
  materials for buildup circuit board. Expect to
  make halogen free products.
• Sony Have goal to ban halogenated frs in
  products by 2004
• Toshiba Does not procure materials containing
  BFRs, BFRs-free plastic for the body of its PCs
  since 1995, developed halogen/antimony-free
  multilayer printed wiring board in 1998

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Voluntary Actions - Furniture

• Ikea, Eddie Bauer, Crate and Barrel requested
  alternative to PentaBDE
• Hickory Springs Converted Connover, N.C. plant to
  non-halogenated Phosphorous-based compound
• Conversion worked in winter/spring, failed in
  summer, due to excess scorching
• Still committed to alternatives

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Scorched Foam
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BFRs-Worthy of a Formal Agency Initiative