According to the newly published risk assessment by Japan’s National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (Nite) about decaBDE and HBCD the two chemicals are of low concern in cosumer prodcuts.
Chemical Watch reported that for Japanese people, 1,2,5,6,9,10-hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) present in consumer products, pose low level of risk.
The article said: “The Chemical Management Centre (CMC) under Nite, which conducted the assessments, found that even when the exposure amount for decaBDE was overestimated by a reasonable amount this was still the case.”
According to the assessment report, Japan is still however considering to replace decaBDE with another flame retardant in the future, however the “risk-trade-off” with other chemicals need to be considered.
In March this year, the Taiwanese Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added decaBDE to its Toxic Chemicals Substance list, after initially proposing the addition in November 2018.
In May, The Recycler reported that Australia’s Nicnas published a report that did not offer specific policy recommendations, but instead advised the Australian government to “explore options” for the management of both the usage and importation of DecaBDE based on the evidence it has collected.
In Europe, the EU Council announced in June it has adopted stricter rules on the world’s most dangerous chemicals, like DecaBDE.
