Tetrabromobisphenol A
Definition of tetrabromobisphenol–A:
Tetrabromobisphenol–A (TBBP-A) is a brominated organic compound. It's primary used as an intermediate in the production of flame retardants like PBDEs, but can also be used as a flame retardant itself. [1]
This is the common definition for tetrabromobisphenol–A, other definitions can be discussed in the article
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Notes
| tetrabromobisphenol–A |
|---|
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| Formula |
| C15H12Br4O2 |
Tetrabromobisphenol-A is produced in the USA, Israel and Japan but not in the EU. Current production is estimated between 120.000 and 150.000 ton each year, of which approximately 40.000 ton is each year exported to the European Union.
Tetrabromobisphenol-A is likely to reach the marine environment largely through industrial waste waters from land-based industrial activities. A smaller contribution to releases to water comes from particulate losses from products containing the substance over their lifetime. Emissions to air are smaller than those to water, and most such emissions are expected to be deposited close to the sources of emission. There are however some indications of possible transport over longer distances, possible adsorbed to particulate matter, which could lead to a contribution to the marine environment through this route.
No data are available on loads of tetrabromobisphenol-A entering the OSPAR Convention Waters and the Greater North Sea.
There are no available measured levels of tetrabromobisphenol-A in marine waters, but there are
measurements in estuarine sediments, as well as in freshwaters, freshwater sediments and waste waters. A
summary of these data2 is included in Tables 2 to 4.
The available data on the levels of tetrabromobisphenol-A in aquatic biota are summarised in Table 5.
Tetrabromobisphenol-A is not considered to fully meet the PBT criteria as its liability to biaccumulate is below the threshold set by OSPAR. It is, however, persistent and toxic. The potential for tetrabromobisphenol-A to degrade under anaerobic conditions to form bisphenol-A is also still being investigated within the ESR process. Tetrabromobisphenol has been detected in freshwater, freshwater sediments and estuarine sediments but there are no available measured levels in marine waters. It has been detected in marine biota
Tetrabromobisphenol-A is very toxic to aquatic organisms, it does not degrade readily in the environment and shows a high accumulation in fish (BCF>100). The detailed properties of tetrabromobisphenol-A, including numerical values for toxicity, persistence and bioaccumulation are set out in the fact sheet at Appendix 2. This fact sheet includes the more recent values which have come to light in the RAR. TBBPA
has demonstrated no endocrine disrupting effects in any of the tests available.
