9. Environmental aspects of flame retardants

The flammable nature of plastics makes the use of RF unavoidable. Their necessity must be weighed against the risks associated with their use. These can be considered at different stages in the life cycle of these products and the polymer materials they are made from.

As in many other areas of chemical application, risk/benefit approaches can come up against the precautionary principle. Historically, many RFs have been marketed without a full toxicological and environmental risk assessment. This explains why a number of compounds have subsequently been banned by regulation or withdrawn from manufacturers' catalogs. In the case of certain halogenated RFs, risk assessments took a very long time in Europe, triggering controversy and ultimately leading to banning or withdrawal. European directives such as RoHS (Restriction of use of Hazardous Substances) and WEEE (Waste...