Preventing exposure to flame retardants
Organic FR chemicals are commonly used in consumer goods and materials to reduce their flammability. However, regulators are becoming increasingly concerned about their harmful effects on humans, wildlife and the environment, prompting some countries to ban or restrict their use. The EU-funded project INTERFLAME (Synergising international studies of environmental contamination with organic flame retardant chemicals) aimed to detect FR chemicals in goods and in the environment. The project also conducted environmental monitoring to assess the effectiveness of legislation designed to reduce environmental levels of FR chemicals. People can be exposed to FRs from treated plastics, textiles and electronics by inhaling indoor air and ingesting indoor dust. INTERFLAME therefore developed and compared different methods to sample indoor air and settled dust to determine the best ways of doing so. Scientists also conducted experiments that help understand how FRs transfer from treated materials into indoor air and dust. Analytical chemists also developed techniques to quickly and accurately determine concentrations of FRs in environmental samples, and studied how some FRs are metabolised. This information is important for understanding what happens when FR chemicals enter the body, including possible toxic effects. Through research exchanges between 10 partners, INTERFLAME studied a variety of FR chemicals, including alternatives destined to replace recently restricted ones. Comparing FR exposure levels in Europe with those elsewhere will contribute to effective strategies to limit the potential health risks associated with these chemicals.
Keywords
Flame retardants, human exposure, chemicals, environmental contamination, organic flame retardant
