an official journal of: published by:
an official journal of: published by:
Editor in Chief: RAFFAELLO COSSU

THE SUBSTITUTION OF REGULATED BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANTS IN PLASTIC PRODUCTS AND WASTE AND THE DECLARED PROPERTIES OF THE SUBSTITUTES IN REACH

  • Pierre Hennebert - Ineris (French National Institute for Industrial Environment and Risks), France

Released under CC BY-NC-ND

Copyright: © 2021 CISA Publisher


Abstract

Plastics containing brominated flame retardants (BFR) currently contain both “legacy” regulated and non-regulated BFR (R-BFRs and NR-BFRs), as evidenced by the increasingly lower correspondence over time between total bromine and R-BFRs content. The portion of substitutive NR-BFR present in the plastics and their toxicity and ecotoxicity properties are documented. Data relating to plastics and foam present in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), waste EEE, vehicles, textiles and upholstery, toys, leisure and sports equipment show how 88% of plastic waste contains bromine from NR-BFRs. BFR substances mentioned in the catalogs of the three main producers (Albemarle, ICL, Lanxess) and BFR on the official used list of 418 plastic additives in the EU were gathered and the toxic and ecotoxic properties of these compounds as listed in their ECHA registration dossier were compiled. Fifty-five preparations using 34 NR-BFRs substances, including polymers and blends, were found. Seventeen of these substances featured an incomplete dossier, 12 were equipped with a complete dossier, whilst 11 substances (including 2 ill-defined blends) should be reassessed. Eight substances have been notified for assessment by the ECHA as persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic, or as endocrine disruptors, including decabromodiphenylethane; 3 substances display functional concentrations (the concentration of additives that retards flame) exceeding the concentration limits classifying a waste as hazardous but are “reactive” (they bind to the polymer). The technical limit of 2 000 mg total Br/kg indicated for further recycling (EN 50625-3-1) relates to all brominated substances and is relevant in the sorting of all poorly classified new substances.

Keywords


Editorial History

  • Received: 26 Feb 2021
  • Revised: 09 Jul 2021
  • Accepted: 23 Aug 2021
  • Available online: 30 Sep 2021

References

Albemarle 2018. Fire Safety Solutions – Product Selector Guide. https://www.albemarle.com/businesses/bromine-specialties/fire-safety-solutions . Product information sheets consulted December 2020

Beggio G, Hennebert P. 2021. Sampling and sub-sampling of granular waste: Part 2 - Size of a representative sample in terms of number of particles with different distributions of particle concentration and particle size. Submitted to Detritus

Charbonnet J, Weber R, Blum A (2020) Flammability standards for furniture, building insulation and electronics: Benefit and risk. Emerging Contaminants 6, 432-441,
DOI 10.1016/j.emcon.2020.05.002

Chemtura Great Lakes Solution - Great Lakes Solution 2017. LANXESS Bromine Solutions. Flame retardants product guide. Consulted January 2018. Product information sheets consulted December 2020. http://add.lanxess.com/fileadmin/user_upload/Flame_Retardants_product_guide_04-2017.pdf

Chen SJ, Ma YJ, Wang J, Chen D, Luo XJ, Mai BX. Brominated flame retardants in children’s toys: concentration, composition, and children’s exposure and risk assessment. Environ Sci Technol. 2009 Jun 1;43(11):4200-6.
DOI 10.1021/es9004834

EN 50625-3-1:2015 Requirements for the collection, logistics and treatment of WEEE - Part 3-1: Specification relating to depollution - General. CENELEC, Brussels, Belgium

EU 2014. 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

EU 2017. 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

Fantke P, Weber R, Scheringer M (2015) From incremental to fundamental substitution in chemical alternatives assessment. Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy 1, 1-8.
DOI 10.1016/j.scp.2015.08.001

Haarman A, Magalini F, Courtois J. 2020. SOFIES. Study on the Impacts of Brominated Flame Retardants on the Recycling of WEEE plastics in Europe. SOFIES for BSEF. 44 p

Hennebert P, Beggio G. 2021. Sampling and sub-sampling of granular waste: Part 1 - Size of a representative sample in terms of number of particles and application to waste containing rare particles in concentration. Submitted to Detritus

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

Hennebert P. 2020. 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. Detritus.
DOI 10.31025/2611-4135/2020.13997

http://eurlex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32014D0955&rid=1

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/ . Product information sheets consulted December 2020

Lucas D, Petty SM, Keen O, Luedeka B, Schlummer M, Weber R, Barlaz M, Yazdani R, Riise B, Rhodes J, Nightingale D, Diamond ML, Vijgen J, Lindeman A, Blum A, Koshland CP (2018) Methods of Responsibly Managing End-of-Life Foams and Plastics Containing Flame Retardants: Part I Environmental Engineering Science 35 (6), 573-587
DOI 10.1089/ees.2017.0147

Wagner S, Schlummer M (2020) Legacy additives in a circular economy of plastics: Current dilemma, policy analysis, and emerging countermeasures. Resources, Conservation & Recycling 158 (2020) 104800.
DOI 10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.104800