About the Partnership to Evaluate Flame Retardant Alternatives to HBCD

This partnership addressed viable alternatives to hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) for use in expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) and extruded polystyrene foam (XPS). Although HBCD is used in a variety of materials, such as textiles and high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) in electronics housings, it is most commonly used as a flame retardant in EPS and XPS, which are used as rigid foam insulation in the building and construction industry.

Readers interested in alternatives for HBCD’s secondary uses, such as in textiles and electronics housings, can refer to DfE’s Flame Retardant Alternatives for Decabromodiphenyl Ether (DecaBDE) Partnership, which considers alternative flame retardants for a wider range of polymers and applications.

Announcements

On June 12, 2014, through its Design for the Environment (DfE) program, EPA released a final alternatives assessment for "Flame Retardant Alternatives for Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)".

The public comment period on the draft assessment was open from September 24 until November 22, 2013, and was reopened from November 25 to December 6, 2013. Seven sets of formal written public comments were received and can be retrieved in Docket No. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2013-0379 via www.regulations.gov.

Why did DfE conduct an alternatives assessment?

Under its Existing Chemical Management Program, EPA issued an Action Plan for HBCD, calling for DfE to convene a multi-stakeholder alternatives assessment to help decisionmakers choose safer alternatives to HBCD. Read more about DfE's Alternatives Assessments.

Participation of all interest groups in the alternatives assessment for HBCD was aimed at ensuring that the full range of views was considered from the start of the project and that they were incorporated appropriately into the project objective and methodology.

Background on Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)

HBCD is a brominated flame retardant that has been found to have persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) characteristics. EPA’s Action Plan for HBCD identified the chemical as persistent in the environment, bioaccumulative in living organisms, and highly toxic to aquatic organisms.

Human exposure is evidenced by the presence of HBCD in breast milk, adipose tissue, and blood, and it biomagnifies in the food chain.

HBCD also presents human health concerns based on animal test results indicating potential reproductive, developmental, and neurological effects. People may be exposed to HBCD from products and dust in the home and workplace.

For general information on flame retardants, read the Consumer Fact Sheet on Flame Retardant Chemicals.

Milestones

All publications from this partnership are available online.

Partnership Participants