Hazard and risks from brominated flame retardants as persistent organic pollutants from solid waste

Abstract

Solid waste, especially electronic waste (e-waste) is a rapidly growing environmental problem throughout the world. Expansion of the global market for electrical and electronic products accelerates, which is an additional difficulty because a wide range of hazardous chemicals is present in them; this consequently create considerable problems in the handling, disposal and recycling. Brominated flame retardants, BFRs, are just a class of hazardous chemicals and several of them are produced in large quantities. They are added to plastics used in products such as home electrical appliances, textiles, plastic foams etc., to prevent fires. The presence of BFRs has been reported in soil and water, and apparent evidences have been shown that their levels in the environment are increasing. This is especially factual around e-waste disposal sites. These elevated levels can cause adverse effects in sensitive human populations such as pregnant women, developing fetuses, young children, fish consumers, and workers at e-waste disposal sites. The toxicological endpoints of elevated environmental levels of BFRs are likely to be thyroid hormone disruption, neurodevelopmental deficits and cancer. However, our knowledge about these chemicals, their sources, environmental behavior, and toxicity is still limited. We need additional studies that focus on the particular congeners. Evaluative modeling may be very useful in determination of implications of BFRs on the living environment.