Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in China: Sources, Trends, and Their Adverse Impacts on Human Health

摘要

There are four main types of flame retardants: chlorinated flame retar - dants (such as chlorinated paraffin wax), phosphoric flame retardants(such as phosphoric esters), inorganic flame retardants (such as Mg(OH)_2, Al(OH)_2), and brominated flame retardants (such as PBBs, HBCD, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers [PBDEs]) that are produced on a global scale. The brominated flame retardants have the highest efficiency for retarding flames, at a lower cost. They are especially suitable for organic polymer products and are widely used in electrical and electronic products (Liu et al. 2005a).