EPA Identifies Substitutes for Toxic Flame Retardant Chemical In
its quest to identify possible substitutes for a toxic flame
retardant chemical known as decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE),
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a
draft report on alternatives. This comprehensive assessment,
developed with public participation under EPA’s Design for the
Environment (DfE) program, profiles the environmental and human
health hazards on 30 alternatives to decaBDE, which will be
phased out of production by December 2013. DecaBDE is a common
flame retardant used in electronics, vehicles, and building
materials. It can cause adverse developmental effects, can
persist in the environment and can bioaccumulate in people and
animals. This technical assessment can help manufacturers
identify alternatives to decaBDE. In addition, EPA will continue
to work with manufacturers to investigate both chemical and non-
chemical alternatives for flame retardants. “EPA is using all of
its tools to reduce the use