Brominated flame retardants: It's elementary

"Brominated flame retardants [BFRs] save thousands of lives every year" (Dr Veronique Steukers, Chair of European Brominated Flame Retardant Industry Panel). The use of BFRs in highly flammable materials like textiles, plastics and electronics increases their resistance to fire. BFRs that are permitted for use "have been risk-assessed and the risk has been found to be extremely low to negligible; the science as a whole demonstrates that they can be used safely." (Dr Stuart Dobson, member of the UK Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances between 2001 and 2008. The main brominated flame retardants have been included in the European Community Regulation on chemicals and their safe use (REACH) on the basis of their extensive risk-assessments.