EHP - San Antonio Statement on BFRs & CFRs
San Antonio Statement on Brominated and Chlorinated Flame Retardants
The San Antonio Statement on Brominated and Chlorinated Flame Retardants addresses growing concern in the scientific community about the persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic properties of brominated and chlorinated organic flame retardants (BFRs and CFRs, respectively) and the exposure to humans and wildlife as a result of intensive use. It calls for use of safer alternatives or complete avoidance. The San Antonio Statement was developed by an esteemed panel of eleven academic experts from around the world and signed by 146 scientists from 22 countries after it was presented at the 30th International Symposium on Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants (Dioxin 2010), held 12–17 September 2010 in San Antonio, Texas. The scientist signatories are experts on the health effects and environmental fate of BFRs and CFRs and environmental contaminants in general. The International Panel on Chemical Pollution (IPCP), an international network of scientists working on various aspects of chemical pollution, also has approved the statement.
The Supplemental Material accompanying the Statement compiles a thorough survey of key science about the persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and chlorinated flame retardants (CFRs) and the lack of evidence concerning their overall benefit in improving fire safety. From this basis of science the Statement states unambiguously that “brominated and chlorinated flame retardants as classes of substances are a concern for persistence, bioaccumulation, long-range transport, and toxicity.” It is included to acknowledge this precautionary warning about halogenated flame retardants that may not be comprehensively included in other authoritative warning lists.
In an accompanying editorial, Dr. Linda Birnbaum, Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences* described the genesis of and importance of the Statement wrote: “Adequate toxicity information is lacking but data indicate that the group contains compounds that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, reproductive and developmental toxicants, neurotoxicants, and endocrine disruptors... The San Antonio Statement is a call for attention to a continuing pattern of unfortunate substitution. Since the 1970s, BFRs and CFRs have commonly served as substitutes for other BFRs and CFRs, even though there have been early warnings and periodic reminders about the problematic properties of these chemicals. To maintain fire safety, safer alternatives to harmful BFRs and CFRs should be developed. In addition, more attention should be paid to the actual need for flame retardants in products...The San Antonio Statement represents a reasoned plea from the scientific community to consider the impacts of our use of BFRs and CFRs both for now and for the future.”
* The National Institute of Environmental Heath Sciences is one of the National Institutes of Health under the auspices of the US Department of HEalth and Human Services