Flame retardants are materials that prevent or resist the spread of fire. Many chemicals are used as flame retardants. Halogenated organic flame retardants are defined as those that contain a chlorine, bromine, fluorine, or iodine bonded to a carbon atom. This includes Chlorianted flame retardants (CFRs) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs). Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) is a flame-retardant of the brominated flame-retardant group and is considered a Persistent Organic Pollutant. There are three main types, referred to as penta, octa and deca for the number of bromine atoms in the molecule. Of the three, deca is most commonly used and is considered the "safest" of the three. See table below for a list of Halogenated organic flame retardants to avoid.
|
Halogenated Organic Flame Retardants to Avoid |
|
CAS
(Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number) |
Name |
|
79-94-7 |
Tetrabromobisphenol-A |
|
25637-99-4 |
Hexabromocyclododecane |
|
1163-19-5 |
Deca-BDE (Decabromodiphenyl ether) |
|
32536-52-0 |
Octa-BDE (Octabromodiphenyl ether) |
|
32534-81-9 |
Penta-BDE (Pentabromodiphenyl ether) |
|
13674-84-5 |
Tris(2-chloroisopropyl phosphate) (TCPP) |
|
115-96-8 |
Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) |
|
13560-89-9 |
Dechlorane Plus ® |
Halogenated organic flame retardants are typically present in products such as cushioned furniture, mattresses, pillows, mattress pads & egg crate cushions, cushioned wheelchairs, cushioned exam tables, draperies, carpets, bedspreads, wall treatments, computers & displays, electronic devices, televisions, audiovisual equipment, printers, patient monitoring devices, and roofing membranes. *This list is not exhaustive.
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