CONCENTRATIONS OF BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANTS IN PLASTICS OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, VEHICLES, CONSTRUCTION, TEXTILES AND NON-FOOD PACKAGING: A REVIEW OF OCCURRENCE AND MANAGEMENT
- Available online in Detritus - Volume 12 - September 2020
- Pages 34-50
Released under CC BY-NC-ND
Copyright: © 2019 CISA Publisher
Abstract
A synthesis of 4000 published data from 35 references of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) concentrations, in plastics of electrical and electronic equipment, vehicles, construction products, textiles and non-food packaging is presented. For POP decabromodiphenylether, a median concentration of 50 mg/kg in plastics of electrical and electronic equipment (n=276), is reported, as well as 31 mg/kg in plastics of vehicles (n=80), 0 mg/kg in plastics of construction (n=81), and 0 mg/kg in plastics of textiles equipment and upholstery (n=75). The mean concentrations are 5200, 3100, 8700 and 6500 mg/kg, respectively. In non-food packaging (expanded or extruded polystyrene), hexabromocyclododecane is present in some samples. All these plastics always have at least one BFR with a mean concentration above the EU regulatory concentration limit for substances, products or hazardous waste. The distribution of all reported concentrations of PBDEs is skewed, with for instance, in plastics of vehicles, 84% of the data lower than 1000 mg decaBDE /kg, and some large values up to 150 000 mg/kg. The sorting and the up-to-date management technologies are for these categories of plastics (estimated to 40% of the plastic use in the EU, the brominated fraction of them being a few percent) necessary to weed out banned substances in the circular economy.Keywords
Editorial History
- Received: 19 Dec 2019
- Revised: 11 Feb 2020
- Accepted: 26 Mar 2020
- Available online: 25 Jul 2020
References
Abdallah, M. A., M. Sharkey, et al. (2018). "Hexabromocyclododecane in polystyrene packaging: A downside of recycling?" Chemosphere 199: 612-616
Alaee, M., Arias, P., Sjodin, A., Bergman, A. (2003). An overview of commercially used brominated flame retardants, their applications, their use patterns in different countries/regions and possible modes of release. Environ. Int. 29, 683-689
Albemarle 2018. Albemarle 2018. Fire Safety Solutions - Product Selector Guide. www.albemarle.com . Consulted Jan 2018
Arias P. 2001. Brominated flame retardants-an overview. The Second International Workshop on Brominated Flame Retardants. Stockholm: AB Firmatryck, 2001. p. 17- 9
Arp, H.P.H., Morin, N.A.O., Hale, S.E., Okkenhaug, G., Breivik, K., Sparrevik, M., 2017. The mass flow and proposed management of bisphenol A in selected Norwegian waste streams. Waste Manag. 60, 775–785.
DOI 10.1016/j.wasman.2017.01.002
Auto Recycling Netherlands (ARN Recycling BV) (2015). Turning waste into raw materials - ELV automotive plastics recycling
Ballesteros-Gómez, A., Brandsma, S.H., De Boer, J., Leonards, P.E.G., 2014. Direct probe atmospheric pressure photoionization/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry for fast screening of flame retardants and plasticizers in products and waste. Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 406, 2503–2512.
DOI 10.1007/s00216-014-7636-8
Buekens A, Zhou X (2014). Recycling plastics from automotive shredder residues: a review. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag (2014) 16:398-414
CEN FD CEN/TR 15310-1 to -5:2007. Characterization of waste - Sampling of waste material. CEN, Brussels, Belgium
CENELEC CLC/TS 50625-3-1:201.5 Requirements for collection, logistics and processing for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) - Part 3-1: Specifications for depollution. CENELEC, Brussels, Belgium
Chemtura Great lakes Solution (2018). Great Lakes Solution 2017. LANXESS Bromine Solutions. Flame retardants product guide. Consulted Jan 2018
Chen S.J., Ma Y.J., Wang J., Tian M., Luo X.J., Chen D., Mai B.X. (2010). Measurement and human exposure assessment of brominated flame retardants in household products from South China. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 176
COWI (consulting company) (2014). End-of-Life vehicles and environmental pollutants in material flows at shredder plants - An overview. Trondheim, Norway, COWI
Deloitte and ADEME (2017). Deloitte Développement Durable (Salès K, Lornet L, Benhallam R.) and ADEME (Lecointre E). Octobre 2017. Rapport Annuel de l'Observatoire des Véhicules Hors d'Usage - Données 2015. 118 pages
Drage, D.S., Sharkey, M., Abdallah, M.A.E., Berresheim, H., Harrad, S., 2018. Brominated flame retardants in Irish waste polymers: Concentrations, legislative compliance, and treatment options. Sci. Total Environ. 625, 1535–1543.
DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.076
EC 2003a. Directive 2003/11/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 February 2003 amending for the 24th time Council Directive 76/769/EEC relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations (pentabromodiphenyl ether, octabromodiphenyl ether). OJEU 15.2.2003 L 42/45
EC 2003b. Council Decision of 19 December 2002 establishing criteria and procedures for the acceptance of waste at landfills pursuant to Article 16
EC 2011. European Commission. Service request under the framework contract No ENV.G.4/FRA/2007/0066. Final report "Study on waste related issues of newly listed POPs and candidate POPs" 25 March 2011 (Update 13 April 2011). Consortium ESWI Expert Team to Support Waste Implementation. by Umweltbundesamt, Bipro, Enviroplan. 841 p. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/studies/pdf/POP_Waste_2011.pdf
EC 2017. Strategy on Plastics in a Circular Economy. 26/01/2017. 4 p
EN 14899:2015. Characterization of Waste - Sampling of waste materials - Framework for the preparation and application of a Sampling Plan. CEN, Brussels, Belgium
EN 15002:2015. Characterization of waste - Preparation of test portions from the laboratory sample. CEN, Brussels, Belgium
EN 62321-6: 2015. Determination of certain substances in electrotechnical products - Part 6: polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in polymers by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). CEN, Brussels, Belgium
EP 2019. European Parliament legislative resolution of 18 April 2019 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on persistent organic pollutants (recast) (COM(2018)0144 - C8-0124/2018 - 2018/0070(COD)). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2019-0436_EN.html
EU 2011. Directive 2011/65 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June July 2011 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment (recast). Official Journal of the European Union, L174, 1.7.2011, p 88-110
EU 2012. Directive 2012/19/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) (recast). Official Journal of the European Union 24.7.2012. L 197/38
EU 2014a. Commission Decision 2014/955/EU of 18 December 2014 amending Decision 2000/532/EC on the list of waste pursuant to Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. http://eurlex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32014D0955&rid=1
EU 2014b. Commission Regulation (EU) No 1357/2014 of 18 December 2014 replacing Annex III to Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste and repealing certain Directives. Official Journal of the European Union. 19.12.2014. L 365/89
EU 2016. Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 of the European parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on persistent organic pollutants(POP) and amending Directive 79/117/EEC. Official Journal of the European Union, L 158, p. 7, 30.4.2004, last amended Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/460 of 30 March 2016, Official Journal of the European Union, L 80, p. 17, 31.3.2016
EU 2017a. Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/227 of 9 February 2017 amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards bis(pentabromophenyl)ether. Official Journal of the European Union. L35/6. 10.2.2017
EU 2017b. Council Regulation (EU) 2017/997 of 8 June 2017 amending Annex III to Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the hazardous property HP 14 'Ecotoxic'. Official Journal of the European Union. 14.6.2017. L 150/1
EU 2018. Directive (EU) 2108/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste. Official Journal of the European Union. 14.6.2018. L 150/109. 32 p
Federal Office for the Environment FOEN (2017). Substance flows in Swiss e-waste - Metals, non-metals, flame retardants and polychlorinated biphenyls in electrical and electronic devices. Bern, 2017. 8 p. Summary of the publication "Stoffflüsse im Schweizer Elektronikschrott" www.bafu.admin.ch/uz-1717-d
Galloway T S, Lee B P, Buric I, Steele A M, BPA Schools Study Consortium, Kocur A L, Pandeth A G, Harries L W. 2019. Plastics Additives and Human Health: A Case Study of Bisphenol A (BPA). Issues in Environmental Science and Technology 2019(47):131-155
Groh K J, Backhaus T, Carney-Almroth B, Geueke B, Inostroza P A, Lennquist A, Leslie H A, Maffini M, Slungef D, Trasande L, Warhurst A M, Muncke J. 2019. Overview of known plastic packaging-associated chemicals and. their hazards. Science of the Total Environment 651 (2019) 3253-3268
Hahladakis J N, Velis C A, Weber R, Iacovidou E, Purnell P. 2018. An overview of chemical additives present in plastics: Migration, release, fate and environmental impact during their use, disposal and recycling. Journal of Hazardous Materials 344 (2018) 179-199
Häkkinen E. (2016). Finnish Guidance on POPs waste and pre-treatment of ELVs. Finnish Environment Institute. 22 November 2016, ppt 12 slides. Project on development of the environmental protection of transport, storage and pre-treatment operations of ELVs (Project report published in January 2016), Guidance on management of POPs waste (Published in September 2016)
Hennebert P, Filella M. (2017). WEEE plastic sorting for bromine essential to enforce EU regulation. Waste Management, 71, January 2018, 390-399
Hennebert P. (2018a). Concentrations of brominated flame retardants in plastics of electrical and electronic equipment, vehicle, textiles and construction: a short review of occurrence and management. Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Industrial and Hazardous Waste Management. Chania (Greece). 04-07/09/2018. 13 p
Hennebert P. (2018b). Revue bibliographique des concentrations en substances réglementées dans les plastiques de véhicules hors d'usage. Rapport INERIS DRC-18-173977-02943B. 18/12/2018. 56 p
Hennebert P. (2019). Sorting of waste for circular economy: sampling when (very) few particles have (very) high concentrations of contaminant or valuable element (with bi- or multi-modal distribution). 17th International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium (Sardinia 2019), 30/09 - 04/10/2019, Cagliari, Italy
Hense P, Aigner J, Franke M, Hornung A. (2018). Enabling the recycling of high-tech metals -Joined treatment of halogenated plastics with metal containing fractions. 17th International Electronics Recycling Congress - IERC 2018. January 18th, 2018, Salzburg
ICL Industrial products (2012). Fire protection for automotive and transportation. 6 p. http://icl-ip.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/FR-Transportation-2012.pdf ; http://icl-ip.com/segment_category/automotive/ . Consulted Jan 2018
Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) and University of Amsterdam (IVAM) (2016). POP-BDE waste streams in the Netherlands: analysis and inventory. Report R13-16
Japanese Ministry of the Environment (MOE) (2011). Survey to identify the characteristics of automotive shredder residue (summary)
Jinhui, L., Yuan, C., Wenjing, X., 2017. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in articles: a review of its applications and legislation. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 24, 4312–4321.
DOI 10.1007/s11356-015-4515-6
Kajiwara, N., Takigami, H., 2013. Emission behavior of hexabromocyclododecanes and polybrominated diphenyl ethers from flame-retardant-treated textiles. Environ. Sci. Process. Impacts 15, 1957–1963.
DOI 10.1039/c3em00359k
Leslie H A, Leonard P E G, Brandsma S H, de Boer J, Jonkers N. (2016). Propelling plastics into the circular economy - weeding out the toxics ?rst. Environment International 94 (2016) 230-234
Morf, L.S., Tremp, J., Gloor, R., Huber, Y., Stengele, M., Zennegg, M., 2005. Brominated flame retardants in waste electrical and electronic equipment: Substance flows in a recycling plant. Environ. Sci. Technol. 39, 8691–8699.
DOI 10.1021/es051170k
Morin N.A.O, Andersson P L, Hale S E, Arp H P. (2017). The presence and partitioning behavior of flame retardants in waste, leachate, and air particles from Norwegian waste-handling facilities. J of Environmental Sciences, 62 (2017), 115-132
Niinipuu M. (2013). A comparative evaluation of brominated compounds in end-of-life vehicles. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polybrominated dibenzo-pdioxins and dibenzofurans in car seats. Master´s thesis at the Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Sweden
Norwegian Climate and Pollution Agency (2012). Assessment of the need for new requirements for the environmentally sound treatment of end-of-life vehicles. March 2012. Mepex, Frode Syversen. 74 p
Norwegian Climate and Pollution Agency, Mepex, 2012. Assessment of the need for new requirements for the environmentally sound treatment of end-of-life vehicles
Norwegian Environment Agency (2015). Literature Study - DecaBDE in waste streams. Final Report. Reference number: 2015/10094. 11 December 2015. BiPRO GmbH, Alexander Potrykus. 160 p. (Meta reference presenting results of 17 citations other than the ones cited in this reference list, with less abundant data, and source not fully defined)
Norwegian Environment Agency (2016). Consultancy service on collecting, summarising and analysing information on c-decaBDE in waste - Analysis of the information received by the Basel Convention related to c-decaBDE as called for in decision BC-12/3. Reference number: 2016/4072. Final Report. BIPRO. Potrykus A. 25 p
Norwegian Environment Agency (2017). Consultancy service on updating the Basel Convention Technical Guidelines to include information on decaBDE. Case number: 2017/5815. Supplementary Information on Destruction Technologies. Alexander Potrykus, BiPRO GmbH. 30th November 2017. 19 p
Petreas M., Oros D. (2009). Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in California wastestreams. Chemosphere, 74
PlasticsEurope 2018. Plastics - the Facts 2018 - An analysis of European plastics production, demand and waste data. 60 p. https://issuu.com/plasticseuropeebook/docs/plastics_the_facts_2018-_afweb
Puype F, Samsonek J, Knoop J, Egelkraut-Holthus M, Ortlieb M. (2015). Evidence of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) relevant substances in polymeric food-contact articles sold on the European market. Food Addit. Contam. Part A 32, 410-426
Rani, M., W. J. Shim, et al. (2014). "Hexabromocyclododecane in polystyrene-based consumer products: An evidence of unregulated use." Chemosphere 110: 111-119
Risk and Policy Analysis (consulting company) (Georgalas B, Sanchez A, Zarogiannis P) (2014). European Chemical Agency 2014. Support to an annex XV dossier on bis-(pentabromophenyl) ether (decaBDE). J832/ECHA DecaBDE Final report
Sindiku, O., Babayemi, J.O., Tysklind, M., Osibanjo, O., Weber, R., Watson, A., Schlummer, M., Lundstedt, S., 2015. Polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs) in e-waste plastic in Nigeria. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 22, 14515–14529.
DOI 10.1007/s11356-015-5260-6
Sinkkonen S., Paasivirta J., Lahtiperä M., Vattulainen A. (2004). Screening of halogenated aromatic compounds in some raw material lots for an aluminum recycling plant. Environment International, 30
SMMT - Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (2016). Analysis of Automotive Shredder Residue from the Composition, Recycling and Recovery Trial for End of Life Vehicles in the United Kingdom. Arrichiello J and Davison P. Mayer Environmental. April 2016. 14 p
Stubbings, W.A., Harrad, S., 2014. Extent and mechanisms of brominated flame retardant emissions from waste soft furnishings and fabrics: A critical review. Environ. Int. 71, 164–175.
DOI 10.1016/j.envint.2014.06.007
Swerea IVF (2018). Strååt M, Nilsson C. Decabromodiphenyl ether and other flame retardants in plastic waste destined for recycling. Project Report 5170721 M-973, 2018
Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape (2003). Selected polybrominated flame retardants PBDEs and TBBPA, Berne
Taurino, R., Pozzi, P., Zanasi, T., 2010. Facile characterization of polymer fractions from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) for mechanical recycling. Waste Manag. 30, 2601–2607.
DOI 10.1016/j.wasman.2010.07.014
Turner, A., Filella, M., 2017a. Field-portable-XRF reveals the ubiquity of antimony in plastic consumer products. Sci. Total Environ. 584–585, 982–989.
DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.149
Turner, A., Filella, M., 2017b. Bromine in plastic consumer products – Evidence for the widespread recycling of electronic waste. Sci. Total Environ. 601–602, 374–379.
DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.173
UNEP (2017a). United Nations Environmental Programme and Stockholm Convention. 2017. UNEP/POPS/COP.8/32. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Eighth meeting. Geneva, 24 April-5 May 2017. Report of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants on the work of its eighth meeting. SC-8/10: Listing of decabromodiphenyl ether (commercial mixture, c-decaBDE). P 64/114. 13 July 2017. http://chm.pops.int/TheConvention/ConferenceoftheParties/Meetings/COP8/tabid/5309/Default.aspx
UNEP 2017b. Proposal to list perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (CAS No: 355-46-4, PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds in Annexes A, B and/or C to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. UNEP/POPS/POPRC.13/4*. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. 5 June 2017
Vojta S, Betanova J, Melymuk L, Komprdova K, Kohoutek J, Kukucka P, Klanova J (2017). Screening for halogenated flame retardants in European consumer products, building materials and wastes. Chemosphere 168: 457-466
Wäger P, Schluep M, Müller E, Gloor R. (2012). RoHS regulated Substances in Mixed Plastics from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2012, 46, 628?635
Wäger P, Schluep M, Müller E. (2010). RoHS Substances in Mixed Plastics from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. Final Report, September 17, 2010. Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA). 113 p
WRc (consulting company) (2012). Peacock J., Turrell J., Lewin K., Glennie E. 2012. Analysis of Poly-Brominated Biphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in Selected UK Waste Streams: PBDEs in waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and end of life vehicles (ELV). Final report for Defra, Report No.: UC8720.05
WRc (consulting company) Addendum (2012). Peacock J., Turrell J., Lewin K., Glennie E. 2012. Analysis of Poly-Brominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in UK Waste Streams: PBDEs in end of life vehicles (ELV) - Addendum to WRc Report UC8720.04 (January 2012)