PARENT SESSION
PS11 - Exposure and Analysis of Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs)
Sunday, 17 November 2002
8:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Exhibit Hall
(P125) Environmental Risk Assessment of Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs) in Canada .
Lander, Lesley*,1, Pasternak, John2, Taylor, Ken1, Atkinson, Heather1, 1 Existing Substances Branch, Chemicals Evaluation Division, Environment Canada, Hull, Quebec, Canada2 Chemicals Evaluation, Commercial Chemicals, Environment Canada - Pacific Region, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
ABSTRACT- The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA), requires the categorization and, if necessary, screening assessments of substances listed on the Canadian Domestic Substances List (DSL). Substances are categorized based on whether they (i) have a high potential for human exposure or (ii) are persistent or bioaccumulative, as defined in CEPA, and are toxic to humans or non-human organisms. Substances which are categorized "in" require a screening assessment. The screening assessment recommends one of the following three outcomes: (i) the substance is "toxic" as defined under CEPA; (ii) the substance should be added to the Priority Substances List for further assessment; or (iii) no further action is required. There are 46 brominated flame retardants (BFRs) on the DSL. To determine whether these substances have a high potential for human exposure, as well as to gain information for use in environmental and human exposure scenarios, a legally obligatory survey was carried out in 2001 to obtain import and production/manufacturing information from the 2000 calendar year on 123 substances on the DSL, including 17 BFRs. The BFR-related information collected through this survey will be summarized and presented. In addition, screening level risk assessments on the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are in progress. Information on levels of PBDEs in the Canadian environment, as well as toxicity data have been collected and evaluated. Data gaps have been determined. The results of the assessment work to date will be presented.
Key words: brominated flame retardants, risk assessment, Canada