EPA Identifies Alternatives to Flame-Retardant Chemical HBCD

It its "Design for the Environment Alternatives Assessment" draft report, EPA identifies two possible alternatives to hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), a flame-retardant chemical that EPA describes as having "persistent, accumulative and toxic characteristics." More specifically, the agency has found that HBCD is persistent in living organisms and very toxic to aquatic organisms. Exposure to HBCD may stem from products and dust in the home, workplace and environment. One of the proposed alternatives (a butadiene styrene brominated copolymer) is thought to be safer than HBCD. The report also includes HBCD exposure information and substances that are not being considered as alternatives.