DOCSLIB.ORG

Hexabromocyclododecane

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Hexabromocyclododecane HEXABROMOCYCLODODECANE DRAFT RISK MANAGEMENT EVALUATION Prepared by the ad hoc working group on HEXABROMOCYCLODODECANE Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee April 2011 Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive summary .............................................................................................................................................................. 3 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Chemical identity of the proposed substance .................................................................................................. 4 1.2. Conclusions of the Review Committee regarding Annex E information .................................................. 6 1.3. Data sources ................................................................................................................................................ 6 1.4. Status of the chemical under international conventions ............................................................................. 8 1.5. Any national or regional control actions taken ........................................................................................... 8 2. Summary information relevant to the risk management evaluation ........................................................................ 9 2.1. Identification of possible control measures ................................................................................................ 9 2.2. Efficacy and efficiency of possible control measures in meeting risk reduction goals ........................... 10 2.3. Information on alternatives (products and processes) where relevant ..................................................... 11 2.3.1 Production of high impact polystyrene (HIPS) plastic ............................................................... 1313 2.3.2 Production of flame retarded textile back-coating .......................................................................... 13 2.3.3 Production of flame retarded expanded and extruded polystyrene (EPS/XPS) ........................ 13 2.4. Summary of information on impacts on society of implementing possible control measures................ 15 2.4.1. Health, including public, environmental and occupational health ............................................ 15 2.4.2 Biota (biodiversity) ..................................................................................................................... 16 2.4.3 Economic aspects, including costs and benefits for producers and consumers and the distribution of costs and benefits .................................................................................................................................. 16 2.5. Other considerations .................................................................................................................................. 18 3. Synthesis of information ..................................................................................................................................... 1918 3.1 Summary of risk profile information ......................................................................................................... 1918 3.2 Summary of risk management evaluation information ................................................................................. 19 3.3 Suggested risk management measures ...................................................................................................... 2019 4. Concluding statement .............................................................................................................................................. 20 References .......................................................................................................................................................................... 21 2 Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee Executive summary 1. Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD; also HBCDD) was proposed as a POPs candidate by Norway in 2008. In 2010, the 6th meeting of the POPs Review Committee decided that HBCD is likely, as a result of its long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and environmental effects, such that global action is warranted. 2. HBCD was considered by the Executive Body of the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Trans-boundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) to meet the criteria for POPs as defined under the POPs protocol. HBCD is included as part of the brominated flame retardants group in the List of Substances for Priority Action of The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (the OSPAR Convention). Also the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) has included HBCD in the list of priority hazardous substances. 3. HBCD is produced in China, Europe, Japan, and the USA. The current known annual production is approximately 23,000 tonnes per year (9,000 to 10,000 tonnes in China, 13,426 tonnes in Europe and the US). The main share of the market volume is used in Europe although there is uncertainty regarding more recent use with available information suggesting that use of HBCD may be rising (ECHA 2008a). 4. HBCD has been on the world market since the 1960s. It is used as a flame retardant additive, with the intent of delaying ignition and slowing subsequent fire growth during the service life of vehicles, buildings or articles, as well as while materials are stored. The main uses of HBCD are in flame-retarded expanded (EPS) and extruded (XPS) polystyrene foam insulation, with smaller scale use in textile applications and electric and electronic appliances (high impact polystyrene/HIPS). In textiles HBCD is used in back-coatings for upholstery and other interior textiles, including automotive applications. The volumes of HBCD flame retarded articles imported and exported globally is generally unknown. 5. Release of HBCD into the environment may occur during all stages of its life cycle; production and manufacturing, processing, transportation, use, handling, storage or containment, point-source discharges, migratory releases from manufactured product usage and from disposal of the substance or products containing the substance. The European industry has since 2008 taken actions to substantially reduce HBCD emissions from HBCD production and first line use. 6. Emissions of HBCD can be reduced in production of HBCD, in processes where HBCD or articles containing HBCD are used, and during the waste management phase. Emission control techniques at the production sites alone will not be efficient in solving the problem HBCD is posing for the environment and health, since there are diffuse emissions and releases to the water reserves and sewage systems from products containing HBCD. Wastes containing HBCD represent a large source of releases and increasing amounts of HBCD-containing wastes in landfills and other locations could be a long-term source of HBCD emissions. Wastes containing HBCD include production wastes, insulation boards, building and renovation wastes, and from other less-commonly used applications such as electrical and electronic products and textiles. The process of remodelling and demolition of buildings suggests that HBCD emissions are likely to continue in the future from the installed amount of materials containing HBCD. 7. A number of alternative chemical fire retardants are available to replace HBCD in high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) and textile back-coating. However, there appear to be no drop-in chemical alternatives for flame-retarded EPS/XPS products in all regions. In the USA an alternative chemical flame retardant is used in the production of EPS, but not in Europe. 8. Many Some countries have set standards for building materials with regards to their contribution to fire. Consequently, inherently flammable materials must be treated with a flame retardant to meet certain fire performance criteria, which are required in the country regulations for a specific use. In someHowever, in other countries HBCD has effectively already been phased out. In those countries the fire safety regulations do not require the treatment with a flame retardant. The same level of fire safety is achieved by alternative means that are technically feasible and also commercially available. HBCD phase-out could include flame retardant substitution, resin/material substitution and product redesign. 9. HBCD is an intentionally produced industrial chemical. Under the Convention, the most adequate control measure is listing in Annex A. To allow for certain time-limited critical uses of HBCD a specific exemption for use of HBCD, could be given together with detailed conditions for HBCD production and uses. Stockpiles and waste containing HBCD would be subject to the waste provisions in Article 6. 3 Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee 1. Introduction 10. On June 18th 2008, Norway, as a Party to the Stockholm Convention, submitted a proposal to list the brominated flame retardant hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD; also HBCDD) as a possible Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) under Annex A of the Convention (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.5/INF/16). 1.1 Chemical identity of the proposed substance 11. Commercial HBCD is a white solid substance. Producers and importers have provided information on this substance under two different names; hexabromocyclododecane (EC Number 247-148-4, CAS number 25637-99-4) and 1,2,5,6,9,10-hexabromocyclododecane
Load more

Recommended publications
  • OFR Staff Plan
    Staff Briefing Package Project Plan: Organohalogen Flame Retardant Chemicals Assessment July 1, 2020 CPSC Consumer Hotline and General Information: 1-800-638-CPSC (2772) CPSC's Web Site: http://www.cpsc.gov THIS DOCUMENT HAS NOT BEEN REVIEWED CLEARED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE OR ACCEPTED BY THE COMMISSION UNDER CPSA 6(b)(1) Acknowledgments The preparation, writing, and review of this report was supported by a team of staff. We acknowledge and thank team members for their significant contributions. Michael Babich, Ph.D., Directorate for Health Sciences Charles Bevington, M.P.H., Directorate for Health Sciences Xinrong Chen, Ph.D., D.A.B.T., Directorate for Health Sciences Eric Hooker, M.S., D.A.B.T., Directorate for Health Sciences Cynthia Gillham, M.S., Directorate for Economic Analysis John Gordon, Ph.D., Directorate for Health Sciences Kristina Hatlelid, Ph.D., M.P.H., Directorate for Health Sciences Barbara Little, Attorney, Office of the General Counsel Joanna Matheson, Ph.D., Directorate for Health Sciences ii THIS DOCUMENT HAS NOT BEEN REVIEWED CLEARED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE OR ACCEPTED BY THE COMMISSION UNDER CPSA 6(b)(1) Table of Contents Briefing Memo ............................................................................................................................... iv 1. Executive summary .............................................................................................................. 5 2. Introduction .........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) Action Plan
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 8/18/2010 Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) Action Plan I. Overview HBCD is a brominated flame retardant found world-wide in the environment and wildlife. Human exposure is evidenced from its presence in breast milk, adipose tissue and blood. It bioaccumulates and biomagnifies in the food chain. It persists and is transported long distances in the environment, and highly toxic to aquatic organisms. It also presents potential human health concerns based on animal test results indicating potential reproductive, developmental and neurological effects. For these reasons, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to consider initiating action under the Toxic Substances Control Act to address the manufacturing, processing, distribution in commerce, and use of HBCD. As part of the Agency's efforts to address HBCD, EPA also intends to evaluate the potential for disproportionate impact on children and other sub-populations. II. Introduction As part of EPA’s efforts to enhance the existing chemicals program under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)1, the Agency has identified certain widely recognized chemicals, including HBCD, for action plan development based on their presence in humans; persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT)2 characteristics; use in consumer products; production volume; or other similar factors. This Action Plan is based on EPA’s initial review of readily available use, exposure, and hazard information on HBCD. EPA considered which of the various authorities provided under TSCA and other statutes might be appropriate to address potential concerns with HBCD in developing the Action Plan. The Action Plan is intended to describe the courses of action the Agency plans to pursue in the near term to address its concerns.
    [Show full text]
  • No 1223/2009 of the EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT and of the COUNCIL of 30 November 2009 on Cosmetic Products (Recast) (Text with EEA Relevance) (OJ L 342, 22.12.2009, P
    02009R1223 — EN — 03.12.2020 — 025.001 — 1 This text is meant purely as a documentation tool and has no legal effect. The Union's institutions do not assume any liability for its contents. The authentic versions of the relevant acts, including their preambles, are those published in the Official Journal of the European Union and available in EUR-Lex. Those official texts are directly accessible through the links embedded in this document ►B REGULATION (EC) No 1223/2009 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products (recast) (Text with EEA relevance) (OJ L 342, 22.12.2009, p. 59) Amended by: Official Journal No page date ►M1 Commission Regulation (EU) No 344/2013 of 4 April 2013 L 114 1 25.4.2013 ►M2 Commission Regulation (EU) No 483/2013 of 24 May 2013 L 139 8 25.5.2013 ►M3 Commission Regulation (EU) No 658/2013 of 10 July 2013 L 190 38 11.7.2013 ►M4 Commission Regulation (EU) No 1197/2013 of 25 November 2013 L 315 34 26.11.2013 ►M5 Commission Regulation (EU) No 358/2014 of 9 April 2014 L 107 5 10.4.2014 ►M6 Commission Regulation (EU) No 866/2014 of 8 August 2014 L 238 3 9.8.2014 ►M7 Commission Regulation (EU) No 1003/2014 of 18 September 2014 L 282 1 26.9.2014 ►M8 Commission Regulation (EU) No 1004/2014 of 18 September 2014 L 282 5 26.9.2014 ►M9 Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1190 of 20 July 2015 L 193 115 21.7.2015 ►M10 Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1298 of 28 July 2015 L 199 22 29.7.2015 ►M11 Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/314 of 4 March 2016 L 60 59 5.3.2016 ►M12 Commission Regulation (EU)
    [Show full text]
  • Bsef Factsheet TBBPA 24 09 Os9
    HBCD Factsheet Brominated Flame retardant October 2012 Hexabromocyclododecane HBCD Factsheet Hexabromocyclododecane > Introduction Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) 1 is a brominated flame retardant used for many years mainly in thermal insulation foams and in textile coatings. In these applications, HBCD is a unique flame retardant protecting human lives and property from fire. Summary: HBCD is used in industrial applications with proven socio-economic benefits due to their key role in both fire safe ty and energy efficiency. HBCD has undergone an EU scientific assessment which identified no risk to consumers. At European level, HBCD is currently being reviewed under the REACH procedure. In this context, HBCD has been identified as a Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) 2 and is subject to the Authorisation procedure (REACH Annex XIV) 3. HBCD is also being reviewed under the UNEP Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Given the risks identified for the environment, HBCD producers and users are committed to ensuring a responsible use of HBCD and have launched voluntary programmes aiming at controlling and reducing emissions to the envi ronment. > Applications and Fire safety POLYSTYRENE (PS) HBCD provides a high degree of INSULATION FOAMS flame retardancy when used at very low concentrations. HBCD’s main use is in Expanded and Extruded Polystyrene (EPS and XPS) While alternatives to HBCD in EPS insulation foam boards which are widely and XPS have been identified, these are used by the construction sector. at variously advanced development stages. It will take several years before EPS and XPS insulation foams play a sufficient volume of HBCD alternatives a key role in helping governments covering the needs of the market meet a significant part of global, becomes commercially available.
    [Show full text]
  • Triphenyl Phosphate (TPP)
    EPA Document# EPA-740-R-20-010 August 2020 United States Office of Chemical Safety and Environmental Protection Agency Pollution Prevention Final Scope of the Risk Evaluation for Triphenyl Phosphate (TPP) CASRN 115-86-6 August 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................................6 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ..................................................................................................7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................9 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................12 2 SCOPE OF THE EVALUATION ...................................................................................................12 2.1 Reasonably Available Information ..............................................................................................12 Search of Gray Literature ...................................................................................................... 13 Search of Literature from Publicly Available Databases (Peer-Reviewed Literature) .......... 14 Search of TSCA Submissions ................................................................................................ 24 2.2 Conditions of Use ........................................................................................................................24 Categories
    [Show full text]
  • HEXABROMOCYCLODODECANE (HBCD) CAS Reg
    Docket ID Number: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0735 Comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the Scope of its Risk Evaluation for the TSCA Work Plan Chemicals: CYCLIC ALIPHATIC BROMIDE CLUSTER or HEXABROMOCYCLODODECANE (HBCD) CAS Reg. Nos. 25637-99-4, 3194-55-6, 3194-57-8 Submitted on March 15, 2017 by Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Environmental Health Strategy Center Healthy Building Network I. INTRODUCTION The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), as amended in June 2016, requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to determine whether existing chemical substances pose an unreasonable risk to human health and the environment, both generally and for vulnerable subpopulations, without consideration of costs or other non- risk factors. When unreasonable risk is found, EPA must enact restrictions on the production (including both domestic manufacture and import), processing, distribution in commerce, use and/or disposal of that chemical, and/or materials and articles that contain that chemical, that are sufficient to extinguish such unreasonable risk. Congress directed EPA to launch the risk evaluation process expeditiously. Accordingly, in section 6(b)(2)(A) of TSCA, it directed EPA to assure that evaluations are initiated within six months of the law’s enactment on 10 substances drawn from the 2014 TSCA Work Plan list. EPA designated these 10 substances on December 19, 2016, and is now developing scoping documents for its evaluations. EPA’s initial risk evaluations will provide an early test of the effectiveness of new law. It is therefore critical that they reflect the best information available on hazard and exposure, are based on a comprehensive understanding of the chemicals’ conditions of use, and employ sound, precautionary methodologies that fully capture the risks they pose to human health and the environment.
    [Show full text]
  • Pinfa Newsletter N° 22)
    February 2014 – N° 38 ƒ Fire safety for aviation ................................................................................................................................ 1 ƒ PIN fire safety for bio-based green building materials ............................................................................... 2 ƒ PIN FR and recycled oyster shells for polymer performance ..................................................................... 2 ƒ US EPA Design for the Environment alternative FRs ................................................................................ 2 ƒ Train fire safety in India .............................................................................................................................. 3 ƒ Fire risks in cars ......................................................................................................................................... 3 ƒ Recovery of PIN FR from waste printed circuit boards .............................................................................. 3 ƒ Fire-proof thermoplastic railway electrical components ............................................................................. 4 ƒ Fire-safe furniture foam using non-migrating chemicals ............................................................................ 4 ƒ New aluminium-based mineral FRs for TPU .............................................................................................. 5 ƒ Green buildings and fire risk ......................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Flame Retardants
    PBTs Analyzed in Bottom Fish from Four Washington Rivers and Lakes: Hexabromocyclododecane, Tetrabromobisphenol A, Chlorinated Paraffins, Polybrominated Diphenylethers, Polychlorinated Naphthalenes, Perfluorinated Organic Compounds, Lead, and Cadmium October 2012 Publication No. 12-03-042 Publication and Contact Information This report is available on the Department of Ecology’s website at https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/summarypages/1203042.html. Data for this project are available at Ecology’s Environmental Information Management (EIM) website www.ecy.wa.gov/eim. Search User Study ID AJOH0065. The Activity Tracker Code for this study is 12-069. For more information contact: Publications Coordinator Environmental Assessment Program P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600 Phone: (360) 407-6764 Washington State Department of Ecology - www.ecy.wa.gov o Headquarters, Olympia (360) 407-6000 o Northwest Regional Office, Bellevue (425) 649-7000 o Southwest Regional Office, Olympia (360) 407-6300 o Central Regional Office, Yakima (509) 575-2490 o Eastern Regional Office, Spokane (509) 329-3400 Any use of product or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the author or the Department of Ecology. If you need this document in a format for the visually impaired, call 360-407-6764. Persons with hearing loss can call 711 for Washington Relay Service. Persons with a speech disability can call 877-833-6341. Page 1 PBTs Analyzed in Bottom Fish from Four Washington Rivers and Lakes: Hexabromocyclododecane,
    [Show full text]
  • National Chemicals Registers and Inventories: Benefits and Approaches to Development ABSTRACT
    The WHO Regional Oce for Europe The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations created in 1948 with the primary responsibility for international health matters each with its own programme geared to the particular health conditions of the countries it serves. Member States Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina National chemicals Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus registers and inventories: Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland benefits and approaches France Georgia Germany to development Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Monaco Montenegro Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Republic of Moldova Romania Russian Federation San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Tajikistan The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Turkey Turkmenistan Ukraine UN City, Marmorvej 51, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark United Kingdom Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00 Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Uzbekistan E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.euro.who.int ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The project “Development of legislative and operational framework for collection and sharing of information on hazardous chemicals in Georgia “ (2015-2017) was funded by the German Federal Environment Ministry’s Advisory Assistance Programme for environmental protection in the countries of central and eastern Europe, the Caucasus and central Asia and other countries neighbouring the European Union. It was supervised by the German Environment Agency. The responsibility
    [Show full text]
  • Occurrence and Effects of Plastic Additives on Marine Environments and Organisms: a Review
    1 Chemosphere Achimer September 2017, Volume 182 Pages 781-793 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.05.096 http://archimer.ifremer.fr http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00391/50227/ © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Occurrence and effects of plastic additives on marine environments and organisms: A review Hermabessiere Ludovic 1, Dehaut Alexandre 1, Paul-Pont Ika 2, Lacroix Camille 3, Jezequel Ronan 3, Soudant Philippe 2, Duflos Guillaume 1, * 1 Anses, Lab Securite Aliments, Blvd Bassin Napoleon, F-62200 Boulogne Sur Mer, France. 2 Inst Univ Europeen Mer, Lab Sci Environm Marin LEMAR, UBO CNRS IRD IFREMER UMR6539, Technopole Brest Iroise,Rue Dumont dUryille, F-29280 Plouzane, France. 3 CEDRE, 715 Rue Alain Colas, F-29218 Brest 2, France. * Corresponding author : Guillaume Duflos, email address : [email protected] Abstract : Plastics debris, especially microplastics, have been found worldwide in all marine compartments. Much research has been carried out on adsorbed pollutants on plastic pieces and hydrophobic organic compounds (HOC) associated with microplastics. However, only a few studies have focused on plastic additives. These chemicals are incorporated into plastics from which they can leach out as most of them are not chemically bound. As a consequence of plastic accumulation and fragmentation in oceans, plastic additives could represent an increasing ecotoxicological risk for marine organisms. The present work reviewed the main class of plastic additives identified in the literature, their occurrence in the marine environment, as well as their effects on and transfers to marine organisms. This work identified poly-brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), phthalates, nonylphenols (NP), bisphenol A (BPA) and antioxidants as the most common plastic additives found in marine environments.
    [Show full text]
  • Nations Unies
    UNITED NATIONS RC UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.13/INF/16 Distr.: General Rotterdam Convention on the Prior 4 July 2017 Informed Consent Procedure for English only Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade Chemical Review Committee Thirteenth meeting Rome, 23–27 October 2017 Item 5 (b) (vi) of the provisional agenda Technical work: review of notifications of final regulatory action: hexabromocyclododecane Hexabromocyclododecane: supporting documentation provided by China Note by the Secretariat As referred to in document UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.13/8, the annex to the present note sets out documentation provided by China to support its notification of final regulatory action for hexabromocyclododecane in the industrial category. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited. * UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.13/1. 250717 UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.13/INF/16 Annex Hexabromocyclododecane: supporting documentation provided by China List of documents: 1. Focused summary of the notification of final regulatory action for hexabromocyclododecane – China. 2. Announcement on hexabromocyclododecane, No 84, 2016, in Chinese. 3. Risk profile on hexabromocyclododecane adopted by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee, 2010 (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.6/13/Add.2). 4. Guidechem Chemical Network, Chemical Manufacturers Dictionary http://www.guidechem.com/reference/dic-11487.html 2 Focused summary of the notification of final regulatory action for hexabromocyclododecane – China 1.Introduction (a) The event that led to the final regulatory action: Hexabromocyclododecane as a POPs has been listed in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). As a party of Stockholm Convention, China is obliged to eliminate Hexachlorobenzene as soon as possible. (b) Use: In China, hexabromocyclododecane was formerly used mainly as flame retardant.
    [Show full text]
  • Brominated Flame Retardant Migration Into Indoor Dust
    ELUCIDATING PATHWAYS OF BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANT MIGRATION INTO INDOOR DUST by CASSANDRA BREA RAUERT B.Sc (Hons) A thesis submitted to the University of Birmingham for the degree of: DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Ph.D) Division of Environmental Health and Risk Management School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Birmingham United Kingdom July 2014 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. ABSTRACT Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are ubiquitous in indoor air and dust, leading to human exposure and resultant concerns about its adverse impact on health. Despite observations of their presence at elevated concentrations in indoor dust, relatively little is known about how BFRs transfer to dust from goods within which they are incorporated. A test chamber was therefore constructed to investigate the pathways via which BFRs migrate from source materials to indoor dust. The BFRs studied were: polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs). Experimental methods were optimised to mimic experimentally three such migration pathways. These were: (1) BFRs volatilise from treated products and subsequently partition to dust, (2) particles or fibres of the source material abrade from products and transfer to dust directly, and (3) BFRs transfer as a result of direct source-dust contact.
    [Show full text]