Alternatives to brominated flame retardants 5 Results of screening5. Results of screening The complete result of the screening for environmental and health data is given in the data sheets presented in the appendix. Each data collection has been based primarily on review literature, handbooks and electronic databases. The first page of each data sheet presents a short summary of the most important findings and if relevant a remark regarding special properties of the compound. Here a short summary of the most important findings is presented. For each compound a statement on the data availability is also included.
The information marked by ¨ in the data sheets of the appendix is used in the summaries. The list of literature represents the sources of information, which have been consulted. Not necessarily all references are quoted in each table. 5.1 Triphenyl Phosphate (TPP) CAS no. 115-86-6The available data indicate that TPP has a relatively low impact on health. In rare cases it can induce skin sensitisation and contact dermatitis in humans. Although TPP is a neurotoxin in animals, recent investigations indicate that TPP is not neurotoxic in humans, but persons with preexisting neuromuscular disorders may be at increased risk. The literature reviewed indicates that TPP is very toxic to algae, fish and some crustaceans (typical L(E)C50<1 mg/l). The compound is toxic to D. magna. NOEC data available for fish are in the range 0.014 - 0.23 mg/l. Bioaccumulation of this compound is high (BCF>100). The biodegradation data available indicates that this compound is readily to inherently biodegradable under aerobic conditions. No data is available for anaerobic degradation. Mobility of TPP and its primary degradation product in soil is very low. 5.2 Tricresyl Phosphate CAS no. 1330-78-5The available data indicates that following repeated application tricresyl phosphate is toxic by absorption through the skin. The reviewed test results do not indicate mutagenic or carcinogenic effects of tricresyl phosphates. Tricresyl phosphate may cause effects on the reproduction. The main commercial product is a mixture of various isomers of tricresyl phosphates. Two other tricresyl phosphates (not 1330-78-5) are classified toxic or harmful. The available effect data originates from tests performed using either the pure compound or a formulation. The tests performed using the pure compound indicates that tricresyl phosphate are very toxic to fish and toxic to algae and crustaceans (L(E)C50 from <1 mg/l to 10 mg/l). Formulations are slightly less toxic, but typically in the 1-10 mg/l. A study of long term acute and chronic effects in fish showed NOECs from 0.0001-0.00032 mg/l for a formulated product. Tricresyl phosphate bioaccumulates (BCF ranges from 165-281). Available screening studies suggest that aerobic biodegradation will occur at moderate to rapid rates with half-lives in the order of several days or less. The mobility in soil is presumably low. 5.3 Resorcinol bis(diphenylphosphate) CAS no. 57583-54-7The available data is not sufficient to prepare a complete health screening of the substance. In the reviewed studies there were no adverse effects on reproductive performance or fertility parameters associated with administration of the substance in the diet. In these studies the substance did not result in any biologically significant toxic or teratogenic effect in the fetus. No data available. 5.4 Phosphonic acid (dimethyl ester) CAS no. 20120-33-6The available data is not sufficient to make a health screening of the substance. One study reports an oral-LD50, which may indicate potential adverse acute effects. The available data is not sufficient for an environmental screening. Two data sets are available on the toxicity of a formulation to fish. The indication is that the toxicity of the compound will range from toxic to very toxic to fish. 5.5 Aluminium Trihydroxide CAS no. 21645-51-2 Aluminium hydroxide is often an important source of aluminium in the body. The possible influence of aluminium on the central nervous system, e.g. the development of Alzheimer Syndrome is still at debate. Oral ingestion of aluminium compounds can lead to deposition of aluminium in bones. Epidemiological studies indicate that that aluminium compounds may lead to lung injuries. Most aluminium compounds may cause irritation of eyes and respiratory tract. Very few data was found on the compound Al(OH)3. Since the compound may dissociate in the environment, a limited data set on the Al-ion is presented. The available ecotoxicological data indicates that Al(OH)3 is not toxic to fish, crustacean or bacteria. The data on aluminium-ion indicates that the ionic form is very toxic to fish and toxic to crustaceans. 5.6 Magnesium Hydroxide CAS no. 1309-42-8The available data is not sufficient to conduct a health screening of magnesium hydroxide, but indicate that the substance can be regarded as relatively harmless in small quantities as the substance is used as food additive. Repeated or prolonged human exposure to larger quantities of the substance may imply adverse impact on human health, such as general irritation and malaise. Very few data was found on the compound Mg(OH)2. Since the compound may dissociate in the environment, a limited data set on the Mg-ion is presented. Magnesium is an essential element in many organisms. One sufficiently documented LC50 was identified: 64.7 mg/l, which indicates that magnesium is harmful to crustaceans. 5.7 Ammonium Polyphosphate CAS no. 14728-39-9 and 68333-79-9No relevant data is available. The available data on a formulated product indicates that this substance may be harmful to crustaceans. 5.8 Red Phosphorus CAS no. 7723-14-0Red phosphorus is often contaminated with white and yellow phosphorus, and information on these two allotropic forms is therefore included. Pure red phosphorus seems to be less harmful than the two other allotropic forms. The substance is classified as highly flammable and may explode when exposed to heat or by chemical reaction with oxidisers. Red phosphorus can also react with reducing materials and represent a moderate explosion hazard by chemical reaction or on contact with organic materials. Large quantities ignite spontaneously and on exposure to oxidising materials. It reacts with oxygen and water vapour to evolve the toxic phosphine. No ecotoxicological data on red phosphorus were identified. The available data on yellow phosphorus indicates that this allotropic form of phosphorus is very toxic to algae and fish. 5.9 Zinc Borate CAS no. 1332-07-6The health screening on zinc borate show that only few data sets are available. Boric acid can be formed, if zinc borate gets in contact with water e.g. body fluids. Based on comparison with sodium borate and boric acid, respectively,
the possible main effects are expected to be: No data was found on the compound ZnO(B2O3)2. Since the compound may dissociate in the environment, limited data sets on the Zn-ion and Sodium tetraborate are presented. The effect concentrations of zinc borate are estimated from the effect concentrations of disodium tetraborate (CAS no. 1330-43-4). This approach is based on the assumption that the total toxicity of disodium tetraborate and zinc borate originates from the boric acid formed upon dissolution. Zinc is an essential element for many organisms, however, for crustaceans zinc is very toxic. 5.10 Melamine CAS no. 108-78-1Melamine seems to be only mildly toxic when ingested by animals. There is not sufficient data to predict acute toxicity from dermal application in humans. The available data does not show evidence of irritation, cancer induction or mutageneity by melamine. Based on animal tests it seems there is a risk of formation of stones in the urinary bladder. A risk of inducing dermatitis in humans exposed to melamine among other chemicals in the working environment has been reported, however, the data was obtained in a formaldehyde-rich environment. The LD50 for application of melamine on rabbit skin is found in one study to be slightly larger than 1 mg/kg (1 mg/kg implicates a high risk of adverse effects on skin of humans). One experiment indicates that melamine may be harmful to crustaceans (LC100=56 mg/l), but otherwise the reviewed toxicity data show little aquatic toxicity. The available BCF and the pKa values indicate that the bioaccumulation of this compound is low in the natural pH range (pH 6-8). The available biodegradation data indicates that this compound is persistent both under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. 5.11 Antimony Trioxide CAS no. 1309-64-4Antimony trioxide is in the EU classified as "Harmful (Xn)" and must be labelled with the risk-phrase "Possible risk of irreversible effects" (R40) due to possible carcinogenicity. There are epidemiological indications that antimony trioxide causes dermatitis and has an impact on female reproduction. The substance is teratogenic. Data from animal experiments seem to indicate that females are more sensitive concerning developing lung eoplasms than males. The toxicity of the substance to algae ranges from harmful to very toxic (EC50 <1 to 67 mg/l). To crustaceans the substance not harmful (L(E)C50 >100 mg/l), and weight-of-evidence indicates that the substance is not harmful to fish. The available data indicates that the substance could be oxidised in the environment. 5.12 Quinidine carbonate CAS no. not available No relevant data was found on quinidine carbonate. No relevant data was found on quinidine carbonate. If the toxicity of quinidine carbonate is assumed equal (on a molar
basis) to data on quinidine sulfate from [1], the following estimates for
quinidine carbonate can be given: Daphina magna:LC50(24 h) = 63 mg/l [1] The toxicity of quinidine carbonate based on these estimated values indicates that quinidine carbonate could be harmful to crustaceans.
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