Polybrominated diphenyl ethers

Uses

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are used as additives in many kinds of plastics and polymers to reduce the flammability or the risk of fires in many consumer products. Polymer-based products may contain as much as 30% PBDEs by weight. Three technical or commercial PBDE products or mixtures (i.e., penta-BDE, octa-BDE, and deca-BDE which mostly contain the penta-, octa-, and deca-BDE congeners, respectively, with some other PBDE congeners) have been manufactured since the 1970s. However, the penta-BDE and octa-BDE products were banned in 2009 after the inclusion of the tetra-, penta-, hexa-, and hepta-BDEs in the list of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention, while the commercial deca-BDE product is being considered for regulation in 2017.

Definition

This substance includes all polybrominated diphenyl ethers.

Raw materials

Preparation Products