Guidance on alternative flame retardants to the use of commercial pentabromodiphenylether (c-PentaBDE)

Preface In 2005 Norway nominated the brominated flame retardant commercial pentabromodiphenylether (c-PentaBDE) as a persistant organic pollutant (POP) to be evaluated for inclusion in the Stockholm Convention. Based on its Risk Profile developed in 2006 and its Risk Management Evaluation Report developed in 2007, the POPs Review Committee (POPRC) concluded that global action on c-PentaBDE is warranted. At the POPRC meeting in November 2007 Norway was commissioned to issue a guide of alternative flame retardants to c-PentaBDE. The Norwegian Pollution Control Authority (SFT) has therefore commissioned Swerea IVF (Sweden), to draft this guidance document that has been presented to the fourth meeting of the POPRC in Geneva in October 2008. Furthermore, the document has been revised by the intersessional working group on alternatives and substitution during the intersessional period between the fourth and the fifth meeting of the POPRC. Disclaimer The present document is a status report based on available knowledge on health and environmental effects of flame retardants. It is important to note that there are currently toxicological and ecotoxicological data gaps on the potential alternatives to c-PentaBDE. Nevertheless, based on the available data, there are alternatives that are considered to be less harmful than c-PentaBDE. The data presented in the document are just suggestive and it is important to search for further health and environmental data to get a better understanding of toxicological and ecotoxicological effects of the alternatives presented. The document furthermore reflects the specific concerns of the Stockholm Convention and does not concern issues other than POPs issues. 5. Alternative flame retardants and alternative technical solutions to c-PentaBDE13 6. Summary Flame retardants represent a large group of chemicals that consist mainly of inorganic and organic compounds based on bromine, chlorine, phosphorus, nitrogen, boron, and metallic oxides and hydroxides. Flame retardant properties can also be achieved by other means than flame retardant chemicals through materials design and barrier technologies (intumescent systems). Chemical flame retardants are either additive or reactive. Reactive flame retardants are added during the polymerisation process and become an integral part of the polymer. The result is a modified polymer with flame retardant properties and different molecular structure compared to the original polymer molecule. Additive flame retardants are incorporated into the polymer prior to, during, or more frequently after polymerisation. Additive flame retardants are monomer molecules that are not chemically bonded to the polymer. They may therefore, in contrast to reactive flame retardants, be released …