Abstract
Halogenated flame retardants have been a serious concern to health and environmental scientists. This chapter reviews the availability of alternative fire retardants, and describes the environmental distribution and adverse health effects of halogenated flame retardants. The mode of action and applications of halogenated flame retardants are described, together with the impact they have on fire toxicity and real fire behavior. The regulatory framework driving the withdrawal of halogenated flame retardants is described. The environmental distribution of brominated flame retardants in wildlife and humans is extensively reviewed, followed by a discussion of the presence of flame retardants in food. The adverse effects of halogenated flame retardants also include the formation of highly toxic halogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans. The harmful effects of halogenated flame retardants on humans are reviewed. In the concluding section, an overview of the environmental drivers for replacement of halogenated flame retardants is presented.
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