Introduction to the background of flame retardancy

Flame retardant is one of the fastest developing varieties among plastic additives. According to data, the demand for flame retardants worldwide has exceeded 1.2 million tons per year, including hundreds of varieties such as halogen based flame retardants, phosphorus based flame retardants, and inorganic flame retardants. Due to well-known environmental and toxicological reasons, the European Union began evaluating the potential impact of mass-produced chemicals on the environment and human health more than a decade ago. Flame retardants are no exception, with brominated and phosphorus based flame retardants already being evaluated. The evaluation of pentabromodiphenyl ether, octabromodiphenyl ether, and decabromodiphenyl ether has been completed. The EU banned pentabromodiphenyl ether and octabromodiphenyl ether on August 15, 2004; The risk assessment of decabromodiphenyl ether concluded that there is no significant risk to human health or the environment, and there is no need to take risk reduction measures.
For other flame retardants including tetrabromobisphenol A, hexabromocyclododecane, tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris (2-chloropropyl) phosphate (TCPP), tris (2,3-dichloropropyl) phosphate (TDCP), and 2,2-di (chloromethyl) cyclopropane (V-6), they are currently in the EU risk assessment process. At the same time, certain flame retardants such as antimony trioxide (Sb2O3) are also in the process of EU risk assessment. According to experts, tetrabromobisphenol A is mainly used in printed circuit boards. When used, tetrabromobisphenol A completely reacts with epoxy resin, forming the basic material of printed circuit boards. The human health section of the EU risk assessment has concluded that there is no obvious risk of tetrabromobisphenol A and that risk reduction measures need not be taken under any circumstances; The environmental part of the risk assessment is still ongoing and is expected to be completed in 2006. During the EU risk assessment process, more than 300 studies targeting tetrabromobisphenol A have been reviewed, and more in-depth research is underway.
Hexabromocyclododecane is mainly used for polystyrene insulation panels coated on the back of textile materials in construction projects. The human health and environmental aspects of the EU risk assessment are still ongoing. The EU funded study on endocrine disrupting chemicals found that hexabromocyclododecane and tetrabromobisphenol A did not raise concerns. The conclusion of the comprehensive risk assessment project on the endocrine effects of flame retardants also showed that the general health and toxicity parameters (behavior, survival, growth rate, and related liver and reproductive gland quality) of hexabromocyclododecane and tetrabromobisphenol A were not affected. There are four kinds of chlorophosphorus flame retardants (TCEP, TCPP, TDCP and V-6) which are mainly used in polyurethane foam under EU risk assessment. The EU risk assessment for TCEP has been completed and needs to be announced; The human health and environmental aspects of risk assessment for TCPP, TDCP, and V-6 are still ongoing. At the same time, more testing and data collection work is also being carried out. Some of the risk assessments are expected to be completed in 2006, while others will be completed in 2007. Sb2O3 is mainly used as a synergistic agent for halogenated flame retardants or elastomers. The human health and environment component of the EU risk assessment is still ongoing. The new discussion on human health was held in June 2006,