View source for Decabromodiphenyl ether

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| Watchedfields = changed
| verifiedrevid = 303155014
| ImageFile = Decabromodiphenyl ether.svg
| ImageSize = 250px
| IUPACName = 2,3,4,5,6-Pentabromo-1-(2,3,4,5,6-<br/>pentabromophenoxy)benzene
| OtherNames = DecaBDE, Deca-BDE, BDE-209
| Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers
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| CASNo_Ref = {{cascite}}
| CASNo = 1163-19-5
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| PubChem = 14410
| SMILES = BrC1=C(OC2=C(Br)C(Br)=C(Br)C(Br)<br>=C2Br)C(Br)=C(Br)C(Br)=C1Br
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| RTECS = KN3525000
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| Section2 = {{Chembox Properties
| Formula = C<sub>12</sub>Br<sub>10</sub>O
| MolarMass = 959.17 g/mol
| Appearance = White or pale yellow solid
| Density = 3.364 g/cm<sup>3</sup> solid
| MeltingPt = 294–296 °C <ref name=GESTIS/>
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| BoilingPt = 425 °C (decomposition) <ref name=GESTIS/>
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| Solubility = 20-30 µg/litre <ref> {{cite web | title=Environmental Health Criteria| publisher=ICPS | accessdate=2009-07-20 | url= http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc162.htm#SectionNumber:2.1/}}</ref>
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| Section7 = {{Chembox Hazards
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| MainHazards = Xn <ref name="GESTIS">{{GESTIS|ZVG=493931|CAS=1163-19-5|Name=Decabromodiphenyl ether|Date=17 June 2008}}</ref>
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| RPhrases = {{R40}} <ref name=GESTIS/>
| SPhrases = {{S36/37}} <ref name=GESTIS/>
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| FlashPt = 241 °C
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| Section8 = {{Chembox Related
| OtherAnions = 
| OtherCations = 
| OtherFunctn = [[pentabromodiphenyl ether]], [[octabromodiphenyl ether]]
| Function = [[polybrominated diphenyl ether]]s
| OtherCpds = [[Diphenyl ether]]}}
}}
'''Decabromodiphenyl ether''' (also known as decaBDE, deca-BDE, DBDE, deca, decabromodiphenyl oxide, DBDPO, or bis(pentabromophenyl) ether) is a [[brominated flame retardant]] which belongs to the group of [[polybrominated diphenyl ether]]s (PBDEs).

==Composition, uses, and production==
'''Commercial decaBDE''' is a technical mixture of different PBDE [[congener]]s, with PBDE congener number 209 (decabromodiphenyl ether) and nonabromodiphenyl ether being the most common.<ref name=EU2002>[http://ecb.jrc.it/DOCUMENTS/Existing-Chemicals/RISK_ASSESSMENT/REPORT/decabromodiphenyletherreport013.pdf European Union risk assessment report. Bis(pentabromophenyl) ether.] Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2002.  Publication EUR 20402 EN.</ref> The term '''decaBDE''' alone refers to only decabromodiphenyl ether, the single "fully brominated" PBDE.<ref name=ATSDR2004>Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. [http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp68.html Toxicological Profile for Polybrominated Biphenyls and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBBs and PBDEs).] Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, September 2004.</ref>

DecaBDE is a [[flame retardant]]. The chemical "is always used in conjunction with [[antimony trioxide]]" in [[polymer]]s, mainly in "high impact polystyrene (HIPS) which is used in the television industry for cabinet backs."<ref name=EU2002/> DecaBDE is also used for "polypropylene drapery and upholstery fabric" by means of backcoating and "may also be used in some synthetic carpets."<ref name=EU2002/>

The annual demand worldwide was estimated as 56,100 [[tonnes]] in 2001, of which the Americas accounted for 24,500 tonnes, Asia 23,000 tonnes, and Europe 7,600 tonnes.<ref>Bromine Science and Environmental Forum. [http://www.bsef.com/docs/BFR_vols_2001.doc Major Brominated Flame Retardants Volume Estimates: Total Market Demand By Region in 2001.] 21 January 2003.</ref> The industrial consumption in Europe was stable at approximately 8,000 tonnes annually between the beginning of the 1990s and 2004.<ref>[http://www.geopartner.ch/upload/FABRO_2007.pdf Dynamic Substance Flow Analysis Model for Selected Brominated Flame Retardants as a Base for Decision Making on Risk Reduction Measures], study for the Swiss National Science Foundation, 2007, page 23</ref> As of 2007, [[Albemarle Corporation|Albemarle]] in the U.S., [[Chemtura]] in the U.S., Dead Sea Bromine (ICL-IP) in Israel, and Tosoh Corporation in Japan are the main manufacturers of decaBDE.<ref name=Maine2007>[http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/publications/legislativereports/pdf/finalrptjan07.pdf Brominated Flame Retardants: Third annual report to the Maine Legislature.] Augusta, Maine: Maine Department of Environmental Protection and Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention, January 2007.</ref><ref name=Sissell2007>{{cite journal |author=Sissell, Kara |title=Washington State Signs Law Regulating Deca-PBDE |journal=Chemical Week |date=May 2 2007 |url=http://www.ewg.org/node/21556 |format={{dead link|date=May 2009}} &ndash; <sup>[http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=intitle%3AWashington+State+Signs+Law+Regulating+Deca-PBDE&as_publication=Chemical+Week&as_ylo=&as_yhi=&btnG=Search Scholar search]</sup>}}</ref>

==Environmental chemistry==
As stated in a 2006 review, "Deca-BDE has long been characterized as an environmentally stable and inert product that was not capable of degradation in the environment, not toxic, and therefore of no concern."<ref name=Alcock2006>{{cite journal |author=Alcock RE, Busby J |title=Risk migration and scientific advance: the case of flame-retardant compounds |journal=Risk Anal. |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=369–81 |year=2006 |month=April |pmid=16573627 |doi=10.1111/j.1539-6924.2006.00739.x |url=http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1539-6924.2006.00739.x?journalCode=risk}}</ref> However, "some scientists had not particularly believed that Deca-BDE was so benign, particularly as evidence to this effect came largely from the industry itself."<ref name=Alcock2006/> One problem in studying the chemical was that "the detection of Deca-BDE in environmental samples is difficult and problematic"; only in the late 1990s did "analytical advances... allow[] detection at much lower concentrations."<ref name=Alcock2006/>

DecaBDE is released by different processes into the environment, such as emissions from manufacture of decaBDE-containing products and from the products themselves.<ref name=ATSDR2004/> Elevated concentrations can be found in air, water, soil, food, [[sediment]], [[sludge]], and [[dust]].<ref name=Hale2006>{{cite journal |author=Hale RC, La Guardia MJ, Harvey E, Gaylor MO, Mainor TM |title=Brominated flame retardant concentrations and trends in abiotic media |journal=Chemosphere |volume=64 |issue=2 |pages=181–6 |year=2006 |month=June |pmid=16434082 |doi=10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.12.006 }}</ref> A 2006 study concluded "in general, environmental concentrations of BDE-209 [i.e., decaBDE] appear to be increasing."<ref name=Hale2006/>

===The question of debromination===
An important scientific issue is whether decaBDE debrominates in the environment to PBDE congeners with fewer bromine atoms, since such PBDE congeners may be more toxic than decaBDE itself.<ref name=ATSDR2004/> Debromination may be "biotic" (caused by biological means) or "abiotic" (caused by nonbiological means).<ref name=Maine2007/>  The [[European Union]] (EU) in May 2004 stated "the formation of PBT/vPvB [Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic / very Persistent, very Bioaccumulative] substances in the environment as a result of degradation [of decaBDE] is a possibility that cannot be quantified based on current knowledge."<ref name=EU2004>[http://ecb.jrc.it/DOCUMENTS/Existing-Chemicals/RISK_ASSESSMENT/ADDENDUM/decabromodiphenylether_add_013.pdf Update of the Risk Assessment of Bis(Pentabromophenyl) Ether (Decabromodiphenyl Ether) CAS Number: 1163-19-5 EINECS Number: 214-604-9 Final Environmental Draft of May 2004.]</ref> In September 2004 an [[Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry]] (ATSDR) report asserted that "DecaBDE seems to be largely resistant to environmental degradation."<ref name=ATSDR2004/>

In May 2006, the EPHA Environment Network (now The Health and Environment Alliance) released a report reviewing the available scientific literature<ref name=Stapleton2006May>Stapleton, Heather M. [http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/Debromination_paper_04052006_2_.pdf Brominated Flame Retardants: Assessing DecaBDE Debromination in the Environment.] Brussels, Belgium: EPHA Environment Network, May 2006.</ref> and concluding the following:
* "It is difficult to assess the degree of BDE 209 photolytic debromination in house dust, soils and sediments when exposed to light. However, in cars debromination can be expected to occur more significantly."
* "In sewage anaerobic bacteria can initiate debromination of BDE 209, albeit at a slower rate than photolytic debromination, but due to the large volumes of DecaBDE in sewage sludge this may be significant."
* "Some fish appear capable of debrominating BDE 209 through metabolism. The extent of the metabolism varies among fish and it is difficult to determine the extent of debromination that would occur in the wild."

Subsequently, many studies have been published concerning decaBDE debromination. Common [[Anaerobic organism|anaerobic]] soil bacteria debrominated decaBDE and octaBDE in a 2006 study.<ref name=He2007>{{cite journal |author=He J, Robrock KR, Alvarez-Cohen L |title=Microbial reductive debromination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) |journal=Environ. Sci. Technol. |volume=40 |issue=14 |pages=4429–34 |year=2006 |month=July |pmid=16903281 |doi= 10.1021/es052508d|url=http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/2006/40/i14/abs/es052508d.html}}</ref> In 2006-2007 studies, metabolic debromination of decaBDE was demonstrated in fish<ref name=Stapleton2006Aug>{{cite journal |author=Stapleton HM, Brazil B, Holbrook RD, ''et al'' |title=In vivo and in vitro debromination of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 209) by juvenile rainbow trout and common carp |journal=Environ. Sci. Technol. |volume=40 |issue=15 |pages=4653–8 |year=2006 |month=August |pmid=16913120 |url=http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/2006/40/i15/abs/es060573x.html |doi=10.1021/es060573x}}</ref>, birds<ref name=VandenSteen2007>{{cite journal |author=Van den Steen E, Covaci A, Jaspers VL, ''et al'' |title=Accumulation, tissue-specific distribution and debromination of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 209) in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) |journal=Environ. Pollut. |volume=148 |issue=2 |pages=648–53 |year=2007 |month=July |pmid=17239511 |doi=10.1016/j.envpol.2006.11.017 |url=}}</ref>, cows<ref name=Kierkegaard2007>{{cite journal |author=Kierkegaard A, Asplund L, de Wit CA, ''et al'' |title=Fate of higher brominated PBDEs in lactating cows |journal=Environ. Sci. Technol. |volume=41 |issue=2 |pages=417–23 |year=2007 |month=January |pmid=17310701 |url=http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/2007/41/i02/abs/es0619197.html |doi=10.1021/es0619197}}</ref>, and rats<ref name=Huwe2007>{{cite journal |author=Huwe JK, Smith DJ |title=Accumulation, whole-body depletion, and debromination of decabromodiphenyl ether in male sprague-dawley rats following dietary exposure |journal=Environ. Sci. Technol. |volume=41 |issue=7 |pages=2371–7 |year=2007 |month=April |pmid=17438789 |url=http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/2007/41/i07/abs/es061954d.html |doi=10.1021/es061954d}}</ref>. A 2007 study by La Guardia and colleagues measured PBDE congeners "from a wastewater treatment plant (sludge) to receiving stream sediments and associated aquatic biota"; it "support[ed] the hypothesis that metabolic debromination of -209 [i.e., decaBDE] does occur in the aquatic environment under realistic conditions."<ref name=LaGuardia2007>{{cite journal |author=La Guardia MJ, Hale RC, Harvey E |title=Evidence of debromination of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) in biota from a wastewater receiving stream |journal=Environ. Sci. Technol. |volume=41 |issue=19 |pages=6663–70 |year=2007 |month=October |pmid=17969678 |url=http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/2007/41/i19/abs/es070728g.html |doi=10.1021/es070728g}}</ref> In another 2007 study, Stapleton and Dodder exposed "both a natural and a BDE 209 spiked [house] dust material" to sunlight, and found "nonabrominated congeners" and "octabrominated congeners" consistent with debromination of decaBDE in the environment.<ref name=Stapleton2007>{{cite journal |author=Stapleton HM, Dodder NG |title=Photodegradation of decabromodiphenyl ether in house dust by natural sunlight |journal=Environ. Toxicol. Chem. |volume=27 |issue=2 |pages=306–12 |year=2008 |month=February |pmid=18348638 |doi=10.1897/07-301R.1}}</ref>

In March 2007 the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency concluded "it can be questioned how much abiotic and microbial degradation [of decaBDE] occurs under normal environmental conditions, and it is not clear whether the more toxic lower-brominated PBDEs are produced in significant quantities by any of these pathways."<ref name=IL2007>Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. [http://www.epa.state.il.us/reports/decabde-study/index.html Report on Alternatives to the Flame Retardant DecaBDE: Evaluation of Toxicity, Availability, Affordability, and Fire Safety Issues.] March 2007.</ref> In September 2007 a U.K. Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances issued an opinion that "The relevance of this potential degradation [photodegradation, biodegradation, and metabolism of decaBDE] to the real world is questionable. ... it is impossible to say what the level of concern is unless we have reliable figures for the degradation in the field."<ref name=ACHS2007>Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances. [http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/chemicals/achs/070306/achs-opinion.pdf ACHS opinion on the Draft Environmental Risk Assessment Report for Decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE) (CAS 1163-19-5).] Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, September 2007.</ref>

==Pharmacokinetics==
Exposure to decaBDE is thought to occur by means of ingestion.<ref name=ATSDR2004/> Humans and animals do not absorb decaBDE well; at most, perhaps 2% of an oral dose is absorbed.<ref name=BFRIP2002>[http://www.tera.org/peer/VCCEP/DECA/DBDPO%20Assessment.pdf Voluntary Children’s Chemical Evaluation Program (VCCEP) Data Summary: Decabromodiphenyl Ether (a.k.a. Decabromodiphenyl Oxide, DBDPO) CAS # 1163-19-5.] American Chemistry Council’s Brominated Flame Retardant Industry Panel (BFRIP), December 17, 2002.</ref><ref name=BFRIP2003>[http://www.tera.org/peer/VCCEP/DECA/VCCEP%20DBDPO.pdf Report of the Peer Consultation Meeting On Decabromodiphenyl Ether.] American Chemistry Council’s Brominated Flame Retardant Industry Panel for the Voluntary Children's Chemical Evaluation Program (VCCEP), September 30, 2003.</ref> It is believed that "the small amount of decaBDE that is absorbed can be metabolized"<ref name=ATSDR2004/>.

Once in the body, decaBDE "might leave unchanged or as metabolites, mainly in the feces and in very small amounts in the urine, within a few days," in contrast with "lower brominated PBDEs... [which] might stay in your body for many years, stored mainly in body fat."<ref name=ATSDR2004/>  In workers with occupational exposure to PBDEs, the calculated apparent half-life for decaBDE was 15 days, as opposed to (for example) an octaBDE congener with a half-life of 91 days.<ref name=Thuresson2006>{{cite journal |author=Thuresson K, Höglund P, Hagmar L, Sjödin A, Bergman A, Jakobsson K |title=Apparent half-lives of hepta- to decabrominated diphenyl ethers in human serum as determined in occupationally exposed workers |journal=Environ. Health Perspect. |volume=114 |issue=2 |pages=176–81 |year=2006 |month=February |pmid=16451851 |pmc=1367828 |url=http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/members/2005/8350/8350.html |doi=10.1289/ehp.8350}}</ref>

===Detection in humans===
In the general population, decaBDE has been found in blood and breast milk, but at lower levels than other PBDE congeners such as 47, 99, and 153.<ref name=Lorber2007>{{cite journal |author=Lorber M |title=Exposure of Americans to polybrominated diphenyl ethers |journal=J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=2–19 |year=2008 |month=January |pmid=17426733 |doi=10.1038/sj.jes.7500572 |url=http://www.nature.com/jes/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/7500572a.html}}</ref> An investigation carried out by the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]] detected decaBDE in blood samples from 3 of 14 ministers of health and environment of European Union countries, while (for example) PBDE-153 was found in all 14.<ref>WWF Detox Campaign.  [http://assets.panda.org/downloads/badbloodoctober2004.pdf Bad Blood? A Survey of Chemicals in the Blood of European Ministers.] October 2004.</ref>

==Possible health effects in humans==
In 2004, ATSDR wrote "Nothing definite is known about the health effects of PBDEs in people. Practically all of the available information is from studies of laboratory animals. Animal studies indicate that commercial decaBDE mixtures are generally much less toxic than the products containing lower brominated PBDEs. Because of its very different toxicity, decaBDE is expected to have relatively little effect on the health of humans."<ref name=ATSDR2004/>  Based on animal studies, the possible health effects of decaBDE in humans involve the liver, thyroid, reproductive/developmental effects, and neurological effects.<ref name=IL2006>Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. [http://www.epa.state.il.us/reports/decabde-study/available-research-review.pdf DecaBDE Study: A Review of Available Scientific Research.] January 2006.</ref>

===Liver===
ATSDR stated in 2004 "We don’t know if PBDEs can cause cancer in people, although liver tumors developed in rats and mice that ate extremely large amounts of decaBDE throughout their lifetime. On the basis of evidence for cancer in animals, decaBDE is classified as a possible human carcinogen by EPA [i.e., the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] ]."<ref name=ATSDR2004/>

===Thyroid===
One 2006 review concluded "Decreases in thyroid hormone levels have been reported in several studies, and thyroid gland enlargement (an early sign of hypothyroidism) has been shown in studies of longer duration exposure."<ref name=IL2006/> A 2007 experiment giving decaBDE to pregnant mice found that decaBDE "is likely an endocrine disrupter in male mice following exposure during development" based on results such as decreased serum [[triiodothyronine]].<ref name=Tseng2007>{{cite journal |author=Tseng LH, Li MH, Tsai SS, ''et al'' |title=Developmental exposure to decabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE 209): effects on thyroid hormone and hepatic enzyme activity in male mouse offspring |journal=Chemosphere |volume=70 |issue=4 |pages=640–7 |year=2008 |month=January |pmid=17698168 |doi=10.1016/j.chemosphere.2007.06.078 }}</ref>

===Reproductive/developmental effects===
"Significant data gaps" exist in the scientific literature on a possible relationship between decaBDE and reproductive/developmental effects.<ref name=IL2006/>  A 2006 study of mice found that decaBDE decreased some "sperm functions."<ref name=Tseng2006>{{cite journal |author=Tseng LH, Lee CW, Pan MH, ''et al'' |title=Postnatal exposure of the male mouse to 2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5',6,6'-decabrominated diphenyl ether: decreased epididymal sperm functions without alterations in DNA content and histology in testis |journal=Toxicology |volume=224 |issue=1-2 |pages=33–43 |year=2006 |month=July |pmid=16713668 |doi=10.1016/j.tox.2006.04.003 }}</ref>

===Neurological effects===
EPA has determined that daily Deca exposures should be less than 7 μg/kg-d (micrograms per kilogram bodyweight per day) to minimize the chance of brain and nervous system toxicity <ref> EPA. 2008. Final Integrated Risk Information System Assessment for Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209). Available: http://www.epa.gov/ncea/iris/subst/0035.htm</ref>. EPA based their assessment on a study in 2003 on neurotoxicity in mice, which some have "criticized for certain procedural and statistical problems."<ref name=IL2006/>  A 2007 study in mice "suggest[ed] that decaBDE is a developmental neurotoxicant that can produce long-term behavioral changes following a discrete period of neonatal exposure."<ref name=Rice2007>{{cite journal |author=Rice DC, Reeve EA, Herlihy A, Zoeller RT, Thompson WD, Markowski VP |title=Developmental delays and locomotor activity in the C57BL6/J mouse following neonatal exposure to the fully-brominated PBDE, decabromodiphenyl ether |journal=Neurotoxicol Teratol |volume=29 |issue=4 |pages=511–20 |year=2007 |pmid=17482428 |doi=10.1016/j.ntt.2007.03.061 }}</ref> Administration of decaBDE to male rats at 3 days of age in another 2007 study "was shown to disrupt normal spontaneous behaviour at 2 months of age."<ref name=Viberg2007>{{cite journal |author=Viberg H, Fredriksson A, Eriksson P |title=Changes in spontaneous behaviour and altered response to nicotine in the adult rat, after neonatal exposure to the brominated flame retardant, decabrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE 209) |journal=Neurotoxicology |volume=28 |issue=1 |pages=136–42 |year=2007 |month=January |pmid=17030062 |doi=10.1016/j.neuro.2006.08.006 }}</ref>

==Overall risks and benefits==
In 2002–2003 the American Chemistry Council’s Brominated Flame Retardant Industry Panel, citing an unpublished 1997 study, estimated that 280 deaths due to fires are prevented each year in the U.S. because of the use of decaBDE.<ref name=BFRIP2002/><ref name=BFRIP2003/> The [[American Council on Science and Health]], in a 2006 report largely concerning decaBDE, concluded that "the benefits of PBDE flame retardants, in terms of lives saved and injuries prevented, far outweigh any demonstrated or likely negative health effects from their use."<ref name=Kucewicz2006>Kucewicz, William P. [http://www.acsh.org/docLib/20060809_flame.pdf Brominated Flame Retardants: A Burning Issue.] New York: American Council on Science and Health, August 2006.</ref> A 2006 study concluded "current levels of Deca in the United States are unlikely to represent an adverse health risk for children."<ref name=Hays2006>{{cite journal |author=Hays SM, Pyatt DW |title=Risk assessment for children exposed to decabromodiphenyl (oxide) ether (Deca) in the United States |journal=Integr Environ Assess Manag |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=2–12 |year=2006 |month=January |pmid=16640311 |doi=10.1897/1551-3793(2006)2[2:RAFCET]2.0.CO;2 }}</ref> A report from the Swedish National Testing and Research Institute concerning the costs and benefits of decaBDE in television sets that was funded by BSEF assumed "no cost for injuries (either to humans or the environment) due to exposure to flame retardants... as there was no indication that such costs exist for DecaBDE"; it found that decaBDE's benefits exceeded its costs.<ref name=Simonson2006>Simonson, Margaret, et al. [http://www.sp.se/sv/units/fire/Documents/Rapporter/SPReport_2006_28.pdf Cost Benefit Analysis Model for Fire Safety Methodology and TV (DecaBDE) Case Study.] Swedish National Testing and Research Institute, SP Report 2006:28.</ref>

==Voluntary and governmental actions==
===Europe===
In [[Germany]], plastics manufacturers and the textile additives industry "declared in 1986 a voluntary phase-out of the use of PBDEs, including Deca-BDE."<ref name=Lassen2006>Lassen, Carsten, et al. [http://www2.mst.dk/Udgiv/publications/2007/978-87-7052-349-3/pdf/978-87-7052-350-9.pdf Deca-BDE and Alternatives in Electrical and Electronic Equipment.] Danish Environmental Protection Agency, 2006.</ref> Although decaBDE was to be phased out of electrical and electronic equipment in the EU by 2006 under the EU's [[Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive]] (RoHS), decaBDE use has been exempted from RoHS beginning in 2005 and continuing for five years.<ref name=EU2005>[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/l_271/l_27120051015en00480050.pdf Commission Decision of 13 October 2005 amending for the purposes of adapting to the technical progress the Annex to Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.] ''Official Journal of the European Union'' 15.10.2005.</ref><ref name=WA2005>Washington State Departments of Health and Ecology. [http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/pbt/pbde/docs/oct25/DevelopmentsEU.pdf Developments within the European Union Regarding Deca-BDE as Interpreted by Health and Ecology Staff.] October 12, 2005.</ref>  A case in the [[European Court of Justice]] against the RoHS exemption has been decided against Deca-BDE and its use must be phased out by July 1, 2008.<ref name=Maine2007/> [[Sweden]], an EU member, banned decaBDE as of 2007.<ref name=Lorber2007/><ref name=Stiffler2007March>Stiffler, Lisa. [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/309169_pbde28.html PBDEs: They are everywhere, they accumulate and they spread.] ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'', March 28, 2007.</ref>  The European Brominated Flame Retardant Industry Panel (EBFRIP), which represents the chemical industry, stated that Sweden's ban on decaBDE "is a serious breach of EU law. [http://www.ebfrip.org/uploads/Press/documents/06.08.30%20-%20Swedish%20move.pdf].  The European Commission then started an infringement procedure against Sweden which lead to the Swedish Government repealing this restriction on 1 July 2008[http://www.regeringen.se/sb/d/10626/a/104665]. The environment agency of [[Norway]], which is a member of the [[European Free Trade Association]] but is not a member of the EU, recommended that decaBDE be banned from electronic products in 2008.<ref> Norwegian Ban on Deca PBDE "[http://www.sft.no/publikasjoner/2401/ta2401.pdf]" Norwegian Pollution Control Agency.</ref>

DecaBDE has been the subject of a ten year evaluation under the EU Risk Assessment procedure which has reviewed over 1100 studies. The Risk Assessment was published on the EU Official Journal in May 2008.<ref>Official Journal of the European Union: ''[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2008:131:0007:0012:EN:PDF Communication from the Commission on the results of the risk evaluation of chlorodifluoromethane, bis(pentabromophenyl)ether and methenamine and on the risk reduction strategy for the substance methenamine]'', 29.5.2008</ref> Deca will now go through [[Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals|REACH]] registration.

===United States===
As of mid-2007 two states had instituted measures to phase out decaBDE.  In April 2007 the state of [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]] passed a law banning the manufacture, sale, and use of decaBDE in mattresses as of 2008; the ban "could be extended to TVs, computers and upholstered residential furniture in 2011 provided an alternative flame retardant is approved."<ref name=Sissell2007/><ref name=Stiffler2007April>Stiffler, Lisa. [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/311845_pbdes17.html Chemical ban puts industry on the defensive.] ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'', April 16, 2007.</ref><ref name=WA2007>[http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202007/1024-S.SL.pdf Washington Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1024, Chapter 65, Laws of 2007.]</ref> In June 2007 the state of [[Maine]] passed a law "ban[ning] the use of deca-BDE in mattresses and furniture on January 1, 2008 and phas[ing] out its use in televisions and other plastic-cased electronics by January 1, 2010."<ref name=NRCM2007>[http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=1568 Maine Legislature votes to ban toxic Deca flame retardant.] Natural Resources Council of Maine, May 24th, 2007.</ref><ref name=MaineDemos2007>Maine House Democrats. [http://www.maine.gov/legis/housedems/news/deca_bill_signed_into_law%20.htm Governor signs deca ban bill into law: State will require phase-out of the flame retardant in household items.] June 14, 2007.</ref> As of 2007, other states considering restrictions on decaBDE include California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota,<ref>[https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/revisor/pages/search_status/status_detail.php?b=Senate&f=SF0651&ssn=0&y=2007 SF0651 Status in Senate for Legislative Session 85<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Montana, New York, and Oregon.<ref name=Stiffler2007March/><ref name=NCEL2007>[http://www.ncel.net/newsmanager/news_article.cgi?news_id=175 Maine Joins Washington, Bans PBDEs.] Washington, DC: National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, June 18, 2007.</ref>

On December 17, 2009, as the result of negotiations with EPA, the two U.S. producers of decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE), Albemarle Corporation and Chemtura Corporation, and the largest U.S. importer, ICL Industrial Products, Inc., announced commitments to phase out voluntarily decaBDE in the United States.[http://www.albemarle.com/?news=text&releaseID=1367378][http://phoenix.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=68079&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1367410&highlight], [http://www.icl-ip.com/Brome/Brome.nsf/viewAllByUNID/6E5934724F9A52BEC22576930042E95A/$file/Press_Release.pdf], [http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/actionplans/deccadbe.html]

==Alternatives==
A number of reports have examined alternatives to decaBDE as a flame retardant.<ref name=Lassen2006/><ref name=Leisewitz2001>Leisewitz, André, et al. [http://www.umweltdaten.de/publikationen/fpdf-l/1988.pdf Substituting Environmentally Relevant Flame Retardants: Assessment Fundamentals: Results and summary overview.] Berlin, Germany: Federal Environmental Agency (Umweltbundesamt), June 2001.</ref><ref name=Lowell2005>Pure Strategies, Inc. [http://sustainableproduction.org/downloads/DecaBDESubstitutesFinal4-15-05.pdf Decabromodiphenylether: An Investigation of Non-Halogen Substitutes in Electronic Enclosure and Textile Applications.] Lowell, MA: University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, April 2005.</ref><ref name=Posner2005>Posner, Stefan, and Linda Börås. [http://www.kemi.se/upload/Trycksaker/Pdf/Rapporter/Rapport1_05.pdf Survey and technical assessment of alternatives to Decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE) in plastics.] Stockholm: Swedish Chemicals Inspectorate, June 2005.</ref><ref name=Stuer-Lauridsen2007>Stuer-Lauridsen, Frank, et al. [http://www2.mst.dk/Udgiv/publications/2007/978-87-7052-351-6/pdf/978-87-7052-352-3.pdf Health and Environmental Assessment of Alternatives to Deca-BDE in Electrical and Electronic Equipment.] Danish Environmental Protection Agency, 2007.</ref><ref name=Pakalin2007>Pakalin, Sazan, et al. [http://ecb.jrc.it/documents/Existing-Chemicals/Review_on_production_process_of_decaBDE.pdf Review on production processes of decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) used in polymeric applications in electrical and electronic equipment, and assessment of the availability of potential alternatives to decaBDE.] European Chemicals Bureau, January 2007.</ref>  At least three U.S. states have evaluated decaBDE alternatives:
* [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]] concluded in 2006 that "there do not appear to be any obvious alternatives to Deca-BDE that are less toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative and have enough data available for making a robust assessment" and that "there is much more data available on Deca-BDE than for any of the alternatives."<ref name=WA2006>[http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0507048.pdf Washington State Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE) Chemical Action Plan: Final Plan.] Washington State Departments of Ecology and Health, January 19, 2006.</ref>
* [[Maine]] in January 2007 stated that bisphenol A diphenyl phosphate (also known as BDP, BPADP, bisphenol A diphosphate, or BAPP) "is not a suitable alternative to decaBDE" because "one of the degradation products is [[bisphenol A]], a potent endocrine disruptor."<ref name=Maine2007/> The report listed [[resorcinol]] bis(diphenyl phosphate) (also known as RDP), [[magnesium hydroxide]], and other chemicals as alternatives to decaBDE that are "most likely to be used."<ref name=Maine2007/>
* A March 2007 report from [[Illinois]] categorized decaBDE alternatives as "Potentially Unproblematic," "Potentially Problematic," "Insufficient Data," and "Not Recommended."<ref name=IL2007/> The "Potentially Unproblematic" alternatives were BAPP, RDP, aluminum trihydroxide, and magnesium hydroxide.<ref name=IL2007/>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

[[Category:Flame retardants]]
[[Category:Organobromides]]
[[Category:Phenol ethers]]

[[cs:Dekabromodifenyl ether]]
[[de:Decabromdiphenylether]]
[[no:Deka-BDE]]
[[sv:Dekabromdifenyleter]]
[[Category:2Fix]]