Current Levels and Trends of Brominated Flame Retardants in the Environment

Abstract

Intensive study of the environmental occurrence and impacts of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) began during the 1990s, while the number of investigations reported has increased year-on-year. In this chapter, we review recent literature concerning levels and trends of BFRs in environmental samples, mainly published between 2008 and early 2010. In many areas of the world, controls have been put in place regarding the use of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and environmental concentrations are beginning to fall as a result. Investigations into the potential impacts of TBBP-A in Asia, around sites of manufacture and first use, are still required in order to assess the risks of continued production and use. The use of “novel” BFRs is being studied in order to assess their significance and potential impacts, as their environmental presence has been noted recently in a number of studies. New sources have emerged, such as e-waste recycling operations. In addition, secondary sources, such as glacier ice and permafrost soils, might become increasingly important in the future as a result of climate change. There is still concern that BDE209 (from the deca-mix PBDE technical product) may be debrominated in the environment to yield lower brominated BDE congeners, particularly as a large reservoir of BDE209 is accumulating in sediments. Even today, many ecosystems and regions are not studied well enough for us to be able to establish a global overview concerning BFR concentrations and their toxic effects.