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Mapping of decabromodiphenylether (decaBDE) in other products than electrical and electronical products
3 Former mappings
3.1 Denmark
In 1999 the Danish EPA carried out a mass flow analysis for brominated flame-retardants in Denmark (the Danish EPA 1999).
The mapping was concerned with all brominated flame-retardants. There was no separate specification for decaBDE as all polybrominated diphenylethere (PBDE) were processed as one item as a group.
The mapping concluded:
- That the total import of PBDE as chemicals or plastic raw material at the time of testing accounted for approximately 1 ton.
- That PBDE is imported to Denmark in a number of finished good. The specification of the total amount was associated with great uncertainty, however, with an estimated total consumption of PDBE of 30-120 tons annually.
- That content of brominated flame-retardants in imported products constituted approximately 90% of the total use of brominated flame-retardants.
- That the PBDE consumption was in decline.
The results of the investigation are summarized in the tables below (table 3.1 and 3.2).
Table 3.1: Import of PBDE as chemicals or plastic raw material in Denmark in 1997 (the Danish EPA 1999)
| Product group |
PBDE (tons) |
| Chemical |
1 |
Semi-finished good
(plastic raw material) |
0.1- 0.2 |
| Totals |
1.1-1.2 |
Table 3.2: Consumption of PBDE in Denmark in 1997 (the Danish EPA 1999)
| Product group |
PBDE (tons) |
| Configured circuit board |
0.3-5.2 |
| Card cages |
3-10 |
| Other parts of electric apparatuses and machines |
5-14 |
| Lighting |
1-7 |
| Installations and industrial automatics |
7-29 |
| Textiles, carpets, and furniture |
0-5 |
| Building materials |
1-5 |
| Paints and joint fillers |
0.1-0.5 |
| Means of transportation |
13-46 |
| Other |
0.2 |
| Totals |
30-120 |
If products comprised by RoHS and transportation means are disregarded the total consumption of decaBDE was estimated at 1.3 –11 tons per year.
Keep in mind that decaBDE is one of more polybrominated diphenylethers. The above mentioned results thus express the absolute maximum consumption of decaBDE in Denmark at the time of the investigation.
3.2 Nordic countries
During recent years both Norway and Sweden have published investigations regarding use of brominated flame retardants and including decaBDE.
In 2005 the Norwegian Statens Forurensningstilsyn (SFT) published a mass flow analysis for brominated flame retardants (SFT 2003). The investigation was based on data from 2001.
SFT concluded that the total Norwegian consumption of brominated flame retardants was in the range of 400-500 tons per year. Hereof decaBDE comprise 12-25 tons that are exclusively derived from synthetic rubber production (cellular rubber) for isolation of refrigerating installations in houses, ships, and offshore. There is no registered use of decaBDE for other purposes.
In 2004 the chemical inspection (Sweden) published a waste study of decaBDE (Chemical Inspection 2004). The study contained e.g. a review of the environmental and health risks associated with the substance and an estimate over application and applied amounts.
The report states that decaBDE is primarily used in electronical products (approximately 80%). The remaining 20% are distributed on the following product groups:
- Textiles
- Upholstery
- Cables
- Protective clothing
- Products relating to beds
- Cushions
- Hot-melt glue
The total import of decaBDE as chemical or raw material to Sweden in 2003 was estimated at 5.2 tons.
There is no specification over the import of decaBDE in finished goods.
3.3 EU
There are no manufacturers of decaBDE within the EU; however, EU has estimated that a total amount of 7300 tons (2003) is used for production of goods in EU. 80% of this amount is used for production of electronical products, while 20% (1460 tons) is used for a number of other product types.
The United Kingdom accounts for 50% of this last part corresponding to approximately 730 tons. This is due to strict national regulations for fire protection of furniture (EBFRIP 2004).
The same source indicates that 1300 tons decaBDE was imported in 2003 to the EU in finished goods. If it is assumed that these finished goods are distributed equally between the member states according to population this would in the case of Denmark correspond to 17 tons decaBDE imported through finished goods.
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Version 1.0 August 2007, © Danish Environmental Protection Agency
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