Some Flame Retardants of Concern

Flame retardants that harm health often belong to the groups below. This list is not exhaustive; new flame retardant chemicals are constantly developed. Often a chemical’s identity is concealed as confidential business information, however scientists can sometimes determine its structure through rigorous analysis.

Halogenated (or organohalogen) flame retardants contain chlorine or bromine bonded to carbon

• PBBs (Polybrominated Biphenyls)
  • Once widely used, these were among the first flame retardants identified as toxic and phased out. You can enjoy a dramatic detective story about these chemicals in The Poisoning of Michigan by Joyce Egginton. 

• PBDEs (Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers)
  • PentaBDE, OctaBDE, and DecaBDE were once the most widely used flame retardants but have been phased out due to their toxicity and persistence. However, we are still exposed from products and the environment.
• HBCDD (HBCD or Hexabromocyclododecane)
  • Once widely used in building insulation, HBCDD has been phased out in the EU and US; we are still exposed because of its persistence.
• Tris and other halogenated trialkylphosphates (TDCPP/TDCIPP, TCPP/TCIPP, TCEP, TDBPP and others)
  • Brominated tris and chlorinated tris were banned from children’s sleepwear in the 1970s. Chlorinated tris was later used in furniture foam and is still used in transportation foam and building insulation.
• PolyFR (Emerald Innovation 3000, GreenCrest, BLUEDGE)
  • This large copolymer of brominated styrene and butadiene is commonly used in foam plastic building insulation. It can break down into smaller halogenated byproducts that may be harmful.
• Chlorinated Paraffins (CPs, Long/Medium/Short Chain CPs)
  • The hundreds of toxic and persistent chemicals in this family are manufactured at very high volumes. These are used as plasticizers as well as flame retardants.
• Firemaster 550 and 600
  • Firemaster blends are chemical cocktails containing harmful brominated and organophosphate flame retardants. All four components of Firemaster 550 have been found to be toxic.
• TBPH (bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate)
  • This chemical, a component of Firemaster 550, is structurally similar to the phthalate DEHP (which is banned in children’s products) except for four bromine atoms that take the place of four hydrogen atoms.

• Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA)
  • This chemical cousin to bisphenol A is used at very high volumes. It is of greater concern when added to products than when it is reacted into printed circuit boards.
• Decabromodiphenyl ethane (SAYTEX-8010, DBDPE)
  • This replacement for decaBDE is equally persistent, bioaccumulative, and increasingly being found to be equally toxic.
• Dechlorane Plus (DP, DDC-CO)
  • Dechlorane Plus has a similar structure to the pesticide Mirex, which was banned by the US EPA in 1976 and is classified as a Substance of Very High Concern in Europe. This chemical is used in high volumes in wire and cable sheathing. 
• V6 (2,2-bis(chloromethyl)propane-1,3-diyltetrakis(2-chloroethyl) bisphosphate)
  • This flame retardant is two molecules of TCEP bonded together, and like TCEP may harm the reproductive system and cause cancer. It is used in transportation foam.
• TTBP-TAZ (2,4,6-tris(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)-1,3,5-triazine)
  • This chemical is often used in electronics cases and has been found in household dust.

Organophosphate flame retardants contain phosphorus bonded to carbon

• Firemaster 550 blends are chemical cocktails containing harmful brominated and organophosphate flame retardants. All four components of Firemaster 550 have been found to be toxic.

• Triphenyl Phosphate (TPhP/TPP) 
  • TPhP is also used as a plasticizer and is found in house dust at very high levels. It is a component of Firemaster 550.
• Isopropylated and tert-Butylated Triarylphosphates (ITPs and TBPPs) 
  • These families of chemicals are frequently used together in mixtures including Firemaster and may be as toxic as the PBDEs they often replace. 
• Tris and other halogenated trialkylphosphates (TDCPP/TDCIPP, TCPP/TCIPP, TCEP, TDBPP and others)
  • Brominated tris and chlorinated tris were banned from children’s sleepwear in the 1970s. Chlorinated tris was later used in furniture foam and is still used in transportation foam and building insulation.
• V6 (2,2-bis(chloromethyl)propane-1,3-diyltetrakis(2-chloroethyl) bisphosphate)
  • This flame retardant is two molecules of TCEP bonded together, and like TCEP may harm the reproductive system. It is used in transportation foam.
• Resorcinol bis-(diphenylphosphate) (RDP, RBDPP, RDP Fyroflex)
  • Often used in electronics, this chemical can harm the liver and reproductive system.
• Exolit OP
  • This is a polymeric phosphorus-containing chemical that has not been well-studied.

Polymeric flame retardants contain repeated subunits which may include halogens and phosphates

• PolyFR (Emerald Innovation 3000, GreenCrest, BLUEDGE)
  • This large copolymer of brominated styrene and butadiene is commonly used in foam plastic building insulation. It can break down into smaller halogenated byproducts that may be harmful.
• Saytex-120 (Tetradecabromodiphenoxybenzene, TDBDPB)
  • Saytex-120 has now been phased out of most uses. Its main polymer component can break down into smaller compounds in sunlight.
• Polyhalogenate polyphenol ethers (PHPEs)
  • Little is known about the health effects of these newer flame retardants.
• Exolit OP
  • This is a polymeric phosphorus-containing chemical that has not been well-studied.