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Polybrominated Biphenyl and Diphenylether Flame Retardants: Analysis, Toxicity, and Environmental Occurrence

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Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

Part of the book series: Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology ((RECT,volume 141))

Abstract

Polybromobiphenyls (PBBs) and polybromodiphenylethers (PBDEs) are presently being used as flame retardants in electronic equipment, plastics, building materials, and carpets. There are many standards and regulations applicable to flame retardants; those issued by the American Society for Testing of Materials (ASTM) alone account for more than one hundred (Arias 1992). The advantage of these compounds for industry is their high resistance toward acids, bases, heat, light, and reducing and oxidizing compounds. However, this high resistance becomes a great disadvantage when these compounds are discharged into the environment, where they persist for a long time. Furthermore, brominated dibenzofurans and dibenzodioxins may be formed when these flame retardants are heated (Watanabe and Tatsukawa 1990).

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Author notes

  1. J. W. Everts

    Present address: FAO, BP 3300, Dakar, Sénégal

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, National Institute for Coastal and Marine Management (RIKZ), The Hague, The Netherlands

    A. M. C. M. Pijnenburg & J. W. Everts

  2. Netherlands Institute for Fisheries Research (RIVO), IJmuiden, The Netherlands

    J. de Boer

  3. Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Texel, The Netherlands

    J. P. Boon

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  1. A. M. C. M. Pijnenburg
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  1. Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 85721, USA

    George W. Ware

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Pijnenburg, A.M.C.M., Everts, J.W., de Boer, J., Boon, J.P. (1995). Polybrominated Biphenyl and Diphenylether Flame Retardants: Analysis, Toxicity, and Environmental Occurrence. In: Ware, G.W., Gunther, F.A. (eds) Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, vol 141. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2530-0_1

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