Novel Halogenated and Organophosphate Flame Retardants: Do Novel Flame Retardants have the Same Environmental Fate as the Compounds they are Replacing?

In the wake of the listing by the Stockholm Convention of PBDEs, an increasing number of novel flame retardants (NFRs) are being used in products. It is well documented that the properties which make for desirable FRs can also lead to negative health effects, long environmental residency times and an affinity for organic matrices. Though currently in use, there is very little information regarding the physical-chemical (p-c) properties and environmental fate of the NFRs. This Master's project evaluated the suitability of 86 halogenated and organophosphate NFRs as PBDE replacements given their persistence and long-range transport potential. To do this, measured and modelled p-c properties were compiled and used to model the NFRs' environmental behaviour. It was found that 79-84% of the NFRs have a persistence of high to medium level of concern and that over 1/3 of the NFRs have a persistence similar to the PBDEs they are replacing.M.A.S