Several European countries have questioned PBBs, PBBOs, and some
other chemicals for some years, including Germany and the Nordic
countries. Here is my understanding with respect to Germany.
Germany avoids landfills for waste. They typically incinerate all
waste, including ITE. Ironically, many of the very chemicals used
to flame retard plastics emit objectionable emissions when forceably
burned. There is no law against some of these, but they are still
considered offensive. Entities which test products for consumer use,
a la "Consumer Reports" in the U.S., will often list the chemical
agents measured when the product is burned, and give a lower "score"
to those that emit the offensive chemicals, e.g. antimony.
In their intended use, all flame retardants remain basically inert
within the plastic material. It is only when forceably burned that
some of the best flame retardants become objectionable. I am not
aware of the complete list of "offensive", or legally banned,
substances.
George Alspaugh
Lexmark International
Please respond to "GOEDDERZ, JIM"
<goedderz%[email protected]>
To: "'[email protected]'"
<emc-pstc%[email protected]>
cc: (bcc: George Alspaugh/Lex/Lexmark)
bcc: George Alspaugh/Lex/Lexmark
Subject: RE: Flame Retardants in Europe
Darrell,
I had this information on record. Maybe it will assist your efforts.
**
On July 6th, 1994, the German Government formally revised the "Chemical
Prohibition Regulation" to include various congeners of brominated dioxins
and furans. This legislative action, referred to as the "German Dioxin
Ordinance", restricts he allowable concentration (parts per billion level)
of brominated dioxins and furans in products sold in Germany. Brominated
compounds thought to generate these dioxins and furans may be used as flame
retardants in plastic resins and components using plastic resins. The law
will prohibit marketing in Germany any substance, preparation or product
containing more than the specified limits for the brominated dioxins and
furans listed in the ordinance. Products and parts that weigh less than 50
grams are exempt from the limit requirements for some compounds.
James Goedderz
Sensormatic Electronics
[email protected]
Views expressed by the author do not necessarily represent those of
Sensormatic.
> ----------
> From: Darrell Locke (MSMail)[SMTP:[email protected]]
> Reply To: Darrell Locke (MSMail)
> Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 1998 5:40 PM
> To: '[email protected]'
> Subject: Flame Retardants in Europe
>
> Dear Members,
>
> We recently had an issue with a plastic bezel and the flammability
> requirements for the part. We were told by our molder that the material
> we wished to use contained polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) as a
> flame retardant additive to achieve the required flammability, and that
> these additives have been banned in Europe. I have been trying to
> identify which law, regulation, or standard states this but all I have
> found so far is mostly heresay. Can anyone give me any more definitive
> information on the prohibition of these flame retardants in Europe.
>
> Thanks as always
>
> Darrell Locke
> Advanced Input Devices
>
