Ban Encourages Stateside Advocates
A ban on the toxic flame
retardant deca-bromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) in all new TVs, computers and
other electrical and electronic equipment went into effect in the European
Union on July 1, 2006. Because the decaBDE mixture is contaminated with
nonaBDE, a related substance that has already been banned, decaBDE can no
longer be sold in European Union countries. This will likely have implications
for the U.S. market. Deca, penta, octa and nonaBDE formulations are also known
as polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs.
“The writing is on the wall for decaBDE. The
European Commission’s decision to overturn its previous exemption of decaBDE
mixtures sends a signal to electronics manufacturers and chemical companies to
move to safer, effective, readily available flame retardant alternatives,” said
State Representative Elaine Nekritz. Last year Nekritz was the chief sponsor of successful legislation which
directed the Illinois EPA to conduct a study on the toxicity of decaBDE and its
accumulation in humans and the environment. The same bill banned two other
toxic flame retardants from the same family of chemicals, pentaBDE and octaBDE.
As bio-persistent toxins, PBDEs have been likened to PCBs, which were banned in
the 1970s due to their toxicity in humans and animals. PBDEs bio-accumulate the
same way in human blood, breast milk, food, household dust, and wildlife.
Recent studies in Europe and the States conclude that
decaBDE breaks down into penta and octaBDE, both of which bio-persistent toxins
are banned in the Europe Union and in nine states
including California, Washington, Maine and Illinois. Great Lakes Chemical (now
Chemtura), the only U.S. manufacturer of penta and octaBDE, agreed to phase out
those formulations in 2005. Leading manufacturers, including Apple, Dell,
Hewlett Packard, Sony, and others have eliminated PBDEs, including decaBDE,
from their products.
“The widespread use of decaBDE in consumer
products results in daily exposure, while studies have shown them to cause
thyroid dysfunction, neurodevelopment delays, and birth defects in animals,”
said Max Muller, environmental advocate at Environment Illinois. “The European
Commission decision is just one more affirmation of the growing recognition of
the need the phase out all forms of PBDEs.”
The June 21 decision by the European
Commission found that since decaBDE is contaminated with nonaBDE, a previously
banned flame retardant, equipment or electronics using decaBDE would violate a
major EU law restricting hazardous substances. Under the EU law, decaBDE can
technically still be used, as long as the product does not contain more than
one tenth of one percent of nonaBDE, the banned substance. However,
testing shows that the decaBDE mixture is contaminated with nonaBDE at levels
as high as three percent. The industry has not yet indicated whether it will
choose to reformulate the current decaBDE mixture or utilize safer alternatives
to comply with the European Commission’s decision.
"Of particular concern to me is the evidence that deca is accumulating in
children at alarming rates." Nekritz emphasized.
“The safety of chemicals should be studied and established before they are put
into widespread use in our homes and offices.”
The report, which IEPA
submitted to the Governor in March, affirmed that decaBDE is building up in our
bodies, homes and environment. In response to the IEPA report, Governor Rod
Blagojevich directed the Illinois EPA to research the availability of safer
alternatives to decaBDE and, in industries in which it finds alternatives to be
available, to initiate regulatory proceedings to require their use.
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