This document presents an overview of the available environmental data for flame retardants, polibrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in Spain, including levels for these substances in different environmental compartments, especially for indoor air, sewage and human sludge. The production and main applications of the three commercial mixtures: pentaBDE, octaBDE and decaBDE, is also presented, with the conclusion that only decaBDE is still being produced today.

The article, that was published in the magazine RESIDUOS n. 100, reports the main results of the study “Inventory of activities that use and/or produce Brominated Flame Retardants in the Region of Murcia and the development of strategic plans for these substances”. This is a pioneer project in Spain, dealing with the evaluation of quantities, and modelling its distribution in the environment in this region by using the EUSES v.2.0.3 computer programme. This project was undertaken by the Ministry of Industry and Environment of the Region of Murcia and Labaqua, S.A.

 article PBDEs.