ABSTRACT
A large number of compounds have been identified as being used as flame retardants. At present, knowledge of long-term effects resulting from exposure to flame retardants and their breakdown products is limited. The majority of the organic flame retardants are either covalently bound into polymer molecules (reactive) or mixed into the polymer (additive). Occupational exposure to the breakdown products may also occur during fire fighting. As several of the compounds used are lipophilic and persistent, they may bioaccumulate. Some of the compounds have been shown to cause organ damage, genotoxic effects and cancer. Other breakdown products also need to be taken into account. Some of the compounds that have been evaluated so far (polybrominated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and chlorinated paraffins) have been found to belong to this group. Some include restrictions on the use of compounds because of potential toxic effects in humans.
