Stocks and Flows of PBDEs
in Products from Use to
Waste in the U.S. and Canada from 1970 to 2020
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Abstract
The time-dependent stock of PBDEs
contained in in-use products
(excluding building materials and large vehicles) was estimated for
the U.S. and Canada from 1970 to 2020 based on product consumption
patterns, PBDE contents, and product lifespan. The stocks of penta-
and octaBDE peaked in in-use products at 17 000 (95% confidence
interval: 6000–70 000) and 4000 (1000–50 000)
tonnes in 2004, respectively, and for decaBDE at 140 000 (40 000–300 000)
tonnes in 2008. Products dominating PBDE usage were polyurethane foam
used in furniture (65% of pentaBDE), casings of electrical and electronic
equipment or EEE (80% of octaBDE), and EEE and automotive seating
(35% of decaBDE for each category). The largest flow of PBDEs in products,
excluding automotive sector, to the waste phase occurred between 2005
and 2008 at ∼10 000 tonnes per year. Total consumption
of penta-, octa-, and decaBDE from 1970 to 2020 in products considered
was estimated at ∼46 000, ∼25 000, and
∼380 000 tonnes, respectively. Per capita usage was
estimated at 10–250, 10–150, and 200–2000 g·capita<sup>–1</sup>·y<sup>–1</sup> for penta-, octa-, and
decaBDE, respectively, over the time span. Considering only the first
use (no reuse and/or storage) of PBDE-containing products, approximately
60% of the stock of PBDEs in 2014 or ∼70 000 tonnes,
of which 95% is decaBDE, will remain in the use phase in 2020. Total
emissions to air of all PBDEs from the in-use product stock was estimated
at 70–700 tonnes between 1970 and 2020, with annual emissions
of 0.4–4 tonnes·y<sup>–1</sup> for each of penta-
and octaBDE and 0.35–3.5 tonnes·y<sup>–1</sup> for
decaBDE in 2014