| Greenpeace slammed by flame retardant manufacturers |
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| by Stuart Corner | |
| Tuesday, 04 December 2007 | |
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Page 2 of 3 BSEF cites two types of brominated flame retardants commonly used in electronic devices as being TBBPA and Deca-BDE. " TBBPA is widely used in electronics, especially in printed circuit boards, due to its effectiveness, reliability and safety with respect to the environment and to human health. A recent, extensive risk assessment conducted by the European Union concluded that TBBPA is safe for continued use and presents no health risk. Deca-BDE is used to protect the plastic components of electronic devices from the risks of fire. Deca-BDE has also been thoroughly evaluated under an EU risk assessment, which concluded that it did not present any risk to human health or to the environment under current conditions of manufacturing and use. Featured Whitepaper
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The article stated "The widespread production and use of BFRs; strong evidence of increasing contamination of the environment, wildlife, and people; and limited knowledge of potential effects heighten the importance of identifying emerging issues associated with the use of BFRs...Overall, the toxicology database is very limited; the current literature is incomplete and often conflicting. Available data, however, raise concern over the use of certain classes of brominated flame retardants." And it set out a list of many aspects of BFR usage where further research was needed: "There is clearly a need for more systematic environmental and human monitoring to understand how and where these chemicals are being released into the environment, and what is happening to them once they enter the environment. What fate and transport processes are involved in their environmental movement? Are the commercial products breaking down in the environment or in biota? And if they are degrading, what are the resultant products? How are all of these chemicals getting into people? Is food the major pathway, as is true for many other POPs, or are there other potential sources? Once we understand what the exposure levels are in both people and wildlife, what should be our level of concern?" |
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