International Authorities Turn Up the Heat on Toxic Flame Retardants in Building Materials
By Bill Walsh, Executive Director
Healthy Building Network
November 6, 2008
In June 2004, the Environmental Building News published an exceptionally thorough analysis warning green building professionals of the environmental health dangers associated with a class of highly toxic chemicals known as brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and called for their phase-out. Recent international developments are amplifying this call into a worldwide chorus.
Virtually all polystyrene foam used in building insulation (both XPS, such as Styrofoam, and EPS) is treated with HEXABROMOCYCLODODECANE, known as HBCD. HBCD is a probable endocrine disruptor which bioaccumulates up the food chain. This class of chemicals suffers from grossly inadequate testing for environmental health impacts, and emissions of HBCD during use in various building applications have not been studied. Its detection in household dust, sewage sludge, breast milk and body fluids as well as wildlife and the global environment is currently attributed to manufacturing emissions. HBCD has other uses such as treating upholstery fabrics; however, 85% is used with polystyrene insulation.