Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - European Chemicals Bureau Updates TBBPA Risk Assessment

BRUSSELS -- An update on the status of the environmental part of TBBPA EU Risk Assessment, recently published by the European Chemicals Bureau, found that emissions of TBBPA when added to plastics can cause risks in some scenarios for surface water, sediment and soil.

No concern has been identified in practice by the risk assessment for TBBPA when used as a monomer to be reacted into the epoxy resins for the production of printed circuit board laminates. The ECB mentioned a theoretical scenario where risk reduction could operate for reactive use in cases where sewage sludge is spread to agricultural land, but there is no need for this in practice as all user sites send their industrial sludge to incineration or controlled landfills.

The update follows publication of the human health part last year in which no risks were identified.

The environmental part of TBBPA EU Risk Assessment is expected to be finalized mid 2007.

EBFRIP believes that most of the risks identified for additive application are manageable through a Voluntary Emissions Control Action Programme (VECAP)2. To date, more than two-thirds in volumes of TBBPA additive customers in Europe have committed to control and reduce emissions.

EBFRIP will work with the UK – in charge of TBBPA Risk assessment for the EU -- which will begin draft a strategy to reduce the risks identified above.

TBBPA is used to comply with global fire safety requirements mainly as a reactive chemical in epoxy resins of printed circuit board laminates (such as FR-4, CM-1 and CM-3) and as an additive to ABS plastics

VECAP was established by the brominated flame retardant industry, which wanted to manage, monitor and minimise industrial emissions of commercially available brominated flame retardants into the environment through partnership with the supply chain. Developed for deca-BDE, it is now being applied to the main other commercial brominated flame retardants, TBBPA and HBCD.

For a copy of the first VECAP Annual Progress Report, click here.