Environmental impacts of polymeric flame retardant breakdown

Xiaotu Liu, Yinran Xiong, Xiao Gou, Lei Zhao, Shanquan Wang, Yanhong Wei, Xiaoyun Fan, Yang Yu, Arlene Blum, Lydia Jahl, Miriam L. Diamond, Yiping Du, Zhuyi Zhang, Shuxin Jiang, Xiaowei Zhang (), Ting Wu () and Da Chen ()
Additional contact information
Xiaotu Liu: Jinan University
Yinran Xiong: East China University of Science and Technology
Xiao Gou: Nanjing University
Lei Zhao: Jinan University
Shanquan Wang: Sun Yat-Sen University
Yanhong Wei: Sun Yat-sen University
Xiaoyun Fan: Jinan University
Yang Yu: Jinan University
Arlene Blum: Green Science Policy Institute
Lydia Jahl: Green Science Policy Institute
Miriam L. Diamond: University of Toronto
Yiping Du: East China University of Science and Technology
Zhuyi Zhang: Sun Yat-sen University
Shuxin Jiang: Sun Yat-sen University
Xiaowei Zhang: Nanjing University
Ting Wu: East China University of Science and Technology
Da Chen: Jinan University

Nature Sustainability, 2025, vol. 8, issue 4, 432-445

Abstract: Abstract The industrial use of monomeric halogenated flame retardants has now gradually been phased out due to their toxicity to humans and ecosystems. Polymeric flame retardants are emerging as a ‘safe’ alternative and so have a high production and consumption volume. However, the environmental fate and toxicity of their derivatives remain unknown, making it difficult to understand and adequately manage the associated risk. We take two tetrabromobisphenol A-based polymers (polyTBBPAs) that are widely used in electronics as model flame-retardant chemicals, and we study their behaviour when they break down in the environment and the toxicity of the derivative products. Our results show that polyTBBPAs break down into smaller products in the environment. Using a non-target screening strategy called BrMiner developed by us, we identified 76 breakdown products of polyTBBPAs with molecular weights in the range 400–2,000 Da. These were detected in environmental samples taken from electronic waste recycling facilities in South China. Toxicity tests with zebrafish embryos showed that when they break down in the environment, polyTBBPAs become more toxic, with mitochondrial dysfunction representing a key toxicity mechanism. This study reveals that there are environmental risks associated with polymeric flame retardants, and therefore, their use should be adequately assessed and regulated.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-025-01513-z

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