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Battle against toxins: What potential threats do brominated flame retardants pose to human health?
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are a class of organic bromine compounds that inhibit combustion chemical reactions and are mainly used to reduce the flammability of products. According to market reports, brominated flame retardants account for approximately 19.7% of the market share among commercial chemical flame retardants. These compounds are widely used in plastics and textiles, especially in electronic devices, clothing and furniture. In 2011, 390,000 tonnes of brominated flame retardants were sold worldwide, highlighting their importance in a wide range of products.
Brominated flame retardants are effective in a wide range of plastics and textiles, including electronics, clothing and furniture.
Types of Brominated Flame Retardants
There are many different types of brominated flame retardants, many of which are synthetic and have different chemical properties. The main categories include:
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs): DecaBDE (no longer in production), OctaBDE (no longer in production), and PentaBDE (the first BFR commercialized in the 1950s)
- Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB): no longer produced
- Brominated Cycloalkanes
- Other brominated flame retardants with different properties and mechanisms
Environmental and safety issues
In general, governments have concluded that brominated flame retardants are not harmful to human health at assessed exposure levels. According to research data, ingestion of indoor dust accounts for 80-90% of total PBDE exposure. In addition to dust, food intake is another important source of PBDE exposure, especially high-fat foods such as fatty meat and fish. At the same time, breast milk may also contain PBDE, thus forming an exposure pathway for newborn infants.
PBDE-contaminated foods, especially those high in fat, may be a significant source of exposure.
Application of brominated flame retardants
The electronics industry is the largest consumer of brominated flame retardants. In computers, BFRs are used in four main application areas: printed circuit boards, components such as connectors, plastic casings, and cables. In addition, these flame retardants are widely used in a variety of products, including plastic casings for televisions, carpets, pillows, paints, furniture and household appliances.
Policy and Regulation
Decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE) is strictly regulated in Europe. In 2014, the European Commission amended regulations to ban the use of this substance above 0.1%, and in 2017 reaffirmed the legality of this ban. These policies demonstrate the efforts of the government and professional organizations in controlling hazardous chemicals.
Future Outlook
Although existing scientific assessments suggest that the use of regulated brominated flame retardants poses relatively little threat to human health, with the advancement of technology and a deeper understanding of the environmental and health impacts, more and more attention has been paid to the use of these compounds. There is still a need to continue to strengthen supervision.Strengthening policies and regulations can also promote the research and development and promotion of new harmless flame retardants to ensure the common health of humans and the environment.
As we work to reduce fire risks and protect human health, what do you think about the future health impacts of brominated flame retardants?
