Brominated flame retardants in the environment

The Federal Environment Agency has sampled the flame retardants tetrabrombisphenol A, hexabromocyclododecane, decabromodiphenyl ethane, 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromphenoxyl)ethane and hexabromobenzene in fish, soil and sewage sludge. The presence of these five substances is partly insufficiently studied in the environment. The materials are added to plastics, textiles or electrical appliances to reduce their flammability. When manufactured, used or disposed of, these substances can enter the environment and subsequently accumulate in the food chain and in humans. The fish and soil samples showed low concentrations of brominated flame retardants. The sewage sludge samples were contaminated with all five active substances. Concentrations are comparable to international results.