Organohalogen flame retardants are extensively used in both industrial and consumer products but now are being phased out of circulation by both state governments and the United States Federal government. Organophosphate flame retardants have been chosen as the replacement for the halogenated flame retardants. However, relatively little is known about the potential hazard of these class of chemicals to cause adverse health and environmental effects. To address this, we conducted a health and environmental hazard screening of 90 halogenated and 97 organophosphate flame retardants based on the GreenScreen® or Quick Chemical Assessment Tool (QCAT©) methodologies. Priority consideration was given to human health hazards including carcinogenicity (including mutagenicity and genetic toxicity), reproductive or developmental toxicity, endocrine disruption, and acute mammalian toxicity. Environmental hazards given priority consideration included acute aquatic toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation. Using publicly available information, each hazard category was assigned a concern level (very-low, low, moderate, high, or very high) based on pre-defined numerical ranges, such as no-observed adverse effect levels and hazard classification schemes from authoritative sources, when available. Where empirical data were not identified, quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models were relied upon to predict hazard potential. After assigning concern levels for each priority health effect, each chemical received a score, similar to a report card (A, B, C, or F). The majority of the screened chemicals received an F grade due to empirical data suggesting high hazard, QSAR model predictions, and/or excessive data gaps. Acute Mammalian Toxicity was the most prominent potential health hazard identified based on empirical data. The most prevalent data gap was found in both reproductive toxicity and endocrine disruption endpoints due to the lack of identified empirical data or computer models able to predict this hazard. This study highlights the limited toxicity information available for these widely used chemical classes and indicates that more testing and oversight is critically needed to identify safer alternatives for fire prevention.

In the 1970s, flame retardants began to be added to synthetic materials to meet strict flammability standards. Over the years, diverse flame retardants have been manufactured and used in various products. Some flame retardants have migrated out of the products, and this has led to widespread human exposure and environmental contamination. There also is mounting evidence that many flame retardants are associated with adverse human health effects. As a result, some flame retardants have been banned, restricted, or voluntarily phased out of production and use. This publication develops a scientifically based scoping plan to assess additive, nonpolymeric organohalogen flame retardants as a class for potential chronic health hazards under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, including cancer, birth defects, and gene mutations.

In the 1970s, flame retardants began to be added to synthetic materials to meet strict flammability standards. Over the years, diverse flame retardants have been manufactured and used in various products. Some flame retardants have migrated out of the products, and this has led to widespread human exposure and environmental contamination. There also is mounting evidence that many flame retardants are associated with adverse human health effects. As a result, some flame retardants have been banned, restricted, or voluntarily phased out of production and use. This publication develops a scientifically based scoping plan to assess additive, nonpolymeric organohalogen flame retardants as a class for potential chronic health hazards under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, including cancer, birth defects, and gene mutations.

Analysis and Fate of Emerging Brominated and Fluorinated Organic Pollutants, Volume 87 in the Comprehensive Analytical Chemistry series, contains a wide range of topics on flame retardants in the environment, specifically focusing on halogenated flame retardants. New chapters in this release include an Introduction of emerging halogenated flame retardants in the environment, Analysis of emerging halogenated flame Retardants in environment, Toxicity of emerging halogenated organic chemicals, Occurrence and fate of emerging halogenated flame retardants in environment, Emerging halogenated flame retardants in indoor environment, Food contamination on emerging halogenated flame retardants, Human exposure to emerging halogenated flame retardants, and much more. Provides the current research results on emerging halogenated flame retardants Contains all research subjects about emerging halogenated flame retardants, from analysis to human exposure Presents critical information on halogenated flame retardants

Five plastic materials, with and without fire retardants, were studied to compare the fire hazards of non-halogenated fire retardant additives with halogenated flame retardants. The plastic materials were identified by the sponsors as unsaturated polyesters, thermoplastic high density, low density and cross-linked low density polyethylenes, polypropylene, flexible and rigid poly(vinyl chlorides), and cross-linked and thermoplastic ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers. The non-halogenated fire retardants tested were aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3), also known as alumina trihydrate (ATH), sodium aluminocarbonate, and magnesium hydroxide. The halogenated flame retardants were chlorine or bromine/antimony oxides. The plastics were studied using the Cone Calorimeter and the cup furnace smoke toxicity method (high density polyethylene only). The Cone Calorimeter provided data on mass consumed, time to ignition, peak rate and peak time of heat release, total heat released, effective heat of combustion, average yields of CO, CO2, HCl, and HBr, and average smoke obscuration. The concentrations of toxic gases generated in the cup furnace smoke toxicity method were used to predict the toxic potency of the mixed thermal decomposition products. The data from the Cone Calorimeter indicate that the non-halogenated fire retardants were, in most of the tested plastic formulations, more effective than the halogenated flame retardants in increasing the time to ignition. The non-halogenated fire retardants were also more effective in reducing the mass consumed, peak rate of heat release, total heat released, and effective heat of combustion, and in reducing the amount of smoke produced. The use of halogenated flame retardants increased smoke production and CO yields and, additionally, produced the known acid gases and toxic irritants, HCl and HBr, in measurable quantities. The chemical analytical data for the high density polyethylene samples decomposed via the cup furnace smoke toxicity method in the non-flaming mode indicated that the levels of CO and CO2 were insufficient to cause death of the test animals (rats), but deaths did occur with all samples except the one containing the halogenated flame retardant. In the flaming mode deaths occurred during exposure to the combustion products from the non-fire retarded control and from the halogenated sample; only in the latter case were the CO and CO2 concentrations high enough to cause the within exposure deaths. These toxicity results are unusual, but do not indicate a need for concern, since the LC50 values are in the range typical of many common materials.

Five plastic materials, with and without fire retardants, were studied to compare the fire hazards of non-halogenated fire retardant additives with halogenated flame retardants. The plastic materials were identified by the sponsors as unsaturated polyesters, thermoplastic high density, low density and cross-linked low density polyethylenes, polypropylene, flexible and rigid poly(vinyl chlorides), and cross-linked and thermoplastic ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers. The non-halogenated fire retardants tested were aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3), also known as alumina trihydrate (ATH), sodium aluminocarbonate, and magnesium hydroxide. The plastics were studied using the Cone Calorimeter and the cup furnace smoke toxicity method (high density polyethylene only).

Brominated flame retardants are one of the last classes of halogenated compounds that are still being produced worldwide and used in large quantities in many applications. They are used in plastics, textiles, electronic circuitry, and other materials to prevent fires. This volume covers the state-of-the-art of the analysis, fate and behaviour of brominated flame retardants. Experts in the field provide an overview of the compounds’ physico-chemical properties and uses, their occurrence in the environment and biota, advanced chemical analytical methods, degradation studies, toxicological effects and human exposure. This book is a valuable and comprehensive source of information for environmental scientists interested in brominated flame retardant issues, and for authorities and producers.