Decabromodiphenyl ether

• DecaBDE
• Deca -BDE
• BDE -209
• Bis ( pentabromophenyl ) ether

White solid

Fixed

294-296 ° C

425 ° C ( decomposition)

4.63 · 10-6 Pa ( 21 ° C)

Insoluble in water

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Decabromodiphenyl ether ( decaBDE ) is a flame retardant, and belongs to the group of polybrominated diphenyl ethers.

Use

Deca-BDE is used in electrical and electronic equipment in vehicles, in upholstered furniture and plastics in the construction industry. Types of plastic in which it is used are HIPS, polyethylene, polypropylene, unsaturated polyester and polybutylene terephthalate. The annual consumption in 2001 was estimated at 56,100 tons worldwide, of which about 7,600 tonnes were used by European industry. The production of the chemical itself no longer takes place in Europe.

Environmental relevance

DecaBDE passes through various processes in the environment and is found in environmental compartments such as air, water, soil and river sediments. In the sewage sludge and in the house dust, it is found. The concentrations are generally higher than those of other polybrominated diphenyl ethers. In a survey conducted by WWF study decaBDE was also found in the blood of European parliamentarians. A risk assessment completed in 2004 under the EU Existing Substances Regulation 793/93/EEC has however found no risk to humans or the environment. Lately, however, discussions have again emerged as new studies have shown that the substance can be debrominated under the influence of UV radiation and therefore the recently banned Octa-and pentaBDE can be formed. Following a review by 2007 the results of the risk assessment in the Official Journal of the European Union published on 29 May 2008, which represented the last formal step in the risk assessment process.

Legal Aspects

In electrical an average concentration of 510 ppm was found in a 2003 study, which confirmed the widespread occurrence of decaBDE in electrical equipment.

DecaBDE was first on the list of ingredients that should be banned by Directive 2002/95/EC on the " restriction of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment" ( RoHS) with effect from 1 July 2006, in the year 2005, the European However, by decision adopt an exemption for polymer applications Commission. In contrast, the EU Parliament and Denmark have appealed to the European Court of Justice action, as bans on use in the RoHS Directive may be canceled only if there are no substitutes or substitutes have even more damaging effects. Neither is the case in the opinion of the European Parliament and Denmark. The European Court has upheld on 1 April 2008, the action of the EU Parliament and Denmark to the EU Commission and canceled the set up by the Commission in 2005 than decaBDE primarily on procedural considerations. At the same time, the Court has set a rare side decision only a relatively short transition period of 3 months to 30 June 2008 in force, after which violates the marketing of electrical devices with decaBDE content above the permissible limit to the RoHS Directive.

This decision had immediate effect and had to be no longer implemented by most EU Member States into national law (either because there is already the exception was never adopted into national law or because the relevant national law dynamic refers to the Directive). The European Commission accepted in a press release the decision and recommended manufacturers to prepare for the ban.

The legal situation in Switzerland is similar to the legal position under the Directive, except that the requirement of the lack of substitutes was taken directly to the Swiss law ( ChemRRV ). In the United States is waived in 2012 voluntarily to the use of decaBDE. For some applications (eg, transportation, military) has extended the deadline by one year.

DecaBDE was subjected to a ten -year EU risk assessment, during which more than 1100 studies were evaluated. After the results of the risk assessment were published in May 2008 in the EU Official Journal, decaBDE will now go through the REACH registration process.

Deca - BDE was the end of August registered in the EU chemicals regulation REACH framework with the European Chemicals Agency ( ECHA). Deca -BDE is used in Europe to make a variety of textiles and plastics, including in transport or in upholstered furniture.

The British Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances ( UK Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances - ACHS ). Presented his conclusions on a review of recent studies on DECA -BDE on September 14, 2010 The conclusions of the Advisory Board will be no immediate changes to the EU regulatory status of Deca BDE, including its classification and labeling - lead. The British Ministry of Environment ( DEFRA) and the British Environment Agency, the conclusions of the ACHS will now involve in their consultations with the other British authorities under REACH.

Decabromodiphenyl ether ( decaBDE ) with effect from December 19, 2012 in the SVHC list ( substances of very high concern, SVHC ') was added.