# Presentation: 033292

## Overview of Brominated Flame Retardants

- Leif Magnuson
- EPA Region 9 P2 Coordinator
- magnuson.leif@epa.gov (415) 972-3286

## Outline

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

## 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)

## BFRs: Dozens of Chemicals with Very Different Properties

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

## How BFRs Work

**How BFRs Work**

**Br****-**

**+  H****+**

**= HBr**

**Notes:**
     To understand how FRs work we need to understand something about the combustion process.
     Solid materials do not burn directly, they must be first    decomposed by heat (pyrolysis) to release flammable gases. heat breaks down long-chain solid molecules into smaller molecules which transpire as gases.  Visible flames appear when these flammable gases burn with the oxygen (O2) in the air. 
     The gas flame itself is maintained by the action of high energy   radicals (that is H_ and OH_ in the gas phase) which decompose molecules to give free carbon which can react with oxygen in air  to burn to CO2, generating heat energy.
     Flame retardant molecules release bromine (Br) or chlorine (Cl), as free    radicals (Br_ or Cl_) which react with hydrocarbon molecules (flammable    gases) to give HBr or HCl. These then react with the high-energy H_ and    OH_ radicals to give water and the much lower energy Br- or Cl- radicals,    which are then available to begin a new cycle of H_ and OH_ radical    removal.

## BFRs of Recent Concern

- _Polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDE)_

- _Tetrabromobisphenol A__ __(TBBPA)_

- _Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)_

##  Major Uses

**Notes:**
Additive Flame Retardants- are blended into the product but are not chemically bound.  Are more easily released into the environment.
Reactive Flame Retardants- substances that are co-polymerized with other monomers.  Not readily released from the product.

## 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 . . .**

## Use in the Americas (2001 est.)

- ***86-99% of total PBDE congeners found in human ****	****tissues are present in this product.**

- † Highly bioaccumulative

- BSEF, 2003

**Notes:**
These are High production Volume Chemcials

## 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)**

## 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)

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

- Children’s Health
- Endocrine Disruption
- Persistent Organic Pollutant (POPs)
- Emerging Environmental Challenge
- High Production Volume (HPV) Chemical

## What are Trends in Regulation of PBDEs

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

## Trends in PBDE Regulations

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

## 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

**Notes:**
Sweden and Norway are considering other action on penta, octa and deca,

## U.S. EPA Actions on BFRs

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

**Notes:**
Inclusion of Deca and TBBPA on TRI does not necessarily indicate increased concern for these chemical. Triggered by the fact that these are in IRIS

## 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.

## U.S. EPA Actions

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

## 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

**Notes:**
1. No further action is planned.

2. PBDEs not targeted - comliace in 4 years, from manufactuing, not consumer products.

## 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

**Notes:**
1. No further action is planned.

2. PBDEs not targeted - comliace in 4 years, from manufactuing, not consumer products.

## California State Activities

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

## 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

**Notes:**
Blue Angel -Germany •TCO -Sweden •European Union -Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK •Nordic Swan -Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland

Industries responding: number of companies producing BFR free products
HP, IBM, Apple, Nokia and Ericcson, NEC. Not clear what they are using instead.

## 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

**Notes:**
Blue Angel -Germany •TCO -Sweden •European Union -Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK •Nordic Swan -Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland

Industries responding: number of companies producing BFR free products
HP, IBM, Apple, Nokia and Ericcson, NEC. Not clear what they are using instead.

## 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

**Notes:**
Blue Angel -Germany •TCO -Sweden •European Union -Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK •Nordic Swan -Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland

Industries responding: number of companies producing BFR free products
HP, IBM, Apple, Nokia and Ericcson, NEC. Not clear what they are using instead.

## Scorched Foam

**Notes:**
Perform as effectively as traditional solvent methods
Less toxic than solvents
Reduce hazardous waste costs and liability
aqueous brake washing solution can last several years

## BFRs-Worthy of a Formal Agency Initiative