Avoid Flame Retardants in Electronics (Brominated, Halogenated & More)

Flame retardants in electronics have shifted from the very toxic PBDEs (Polybrominated diphenyl ethers) to newer halogenated flame retardants, then in some cases/with some companies there is a shift to better phosphorus-based flame retardants, metal hydroxide flame retardants, and inorganic flame retardants.

There have also been lags in the industry and a lack of compliance with removing banned flame retardants based on testing.

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Flame Retardants Used in Electronics

PBDEs

From 2002 to 2013, the flame retardant most commonly used in electronics was Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) (a flame retardant that is brominated and halogenated).

PBDEs, a very toxic class of flame retardant, were mostly phased out of electronics in the US in 2013 after restrictions from the Environmental Protection Agency.

(The EPA issued a Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) in 2006 requiring notification 90 days prior to U.S. manufacture or import of pentaBDE and octaBDE for any use after January 1, 2005, following a voluntary phase-out by the sole U.S. manufacturer. In 2012, the EPA proposed to amend this SNUR by expanding restrictions to include processing of certain PBDE congeners, manufacturing or processing of decaBDE after December 31, 2013, and manufacturing or processing any article containing PBDEs, while also proposing a test rule to gather more information on the effects of these chemicals if their use hadn’t ceased by the end of 2013.)

However, we have seen brands using PBDEs since then.

In 2019, All Best Buy Insignia TVs contained the banned brominated flame retardant deca-BDE (a PBDE) (outlawed in five states at the time, including at its purchase location in Washington State). (Source)

There are now 11 states with bans/restrictions on PBDEs. Washington, Maine, and California have enacted some of the strictest PBDE regulations.

Other Halogenated Flame Retardants

Other organohalogens became the biggest concern after PBDEs were banned.

(“Organohalogen” is the broadest category, “halogenated flame retardants” is a subset of organohalogen compounds used specifically as flame retardants, and PBDEs are a specific type of halogenated flame retardants.)

Though now they have mostly been phased out of electronics and were replaced with phosphate FRs and other newer chemicals mentioned in the next section (source).

In 2017, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warned electronics manufacturers and retailers to “eliminate the use” of halogenated flame retardants in plastic casings.

However, in 2019, three Best Buy Insignia Roku TVs contained hazardous organohalogen flame retardants and three Toshiba (Hisense) Fire TVs, produced in partnership with Amazon, contained organohalogen flame retardants, including one closely related to the banned PBDE deca-BDE. (Source)

In 2021, New York became the first state in the nation to restrict organohalogen flame retardants in electronic casings causing the whole industry (in the US) to shift away from this whole class of flame retardant.

In 2019, the European Union (EU) passed an EU-wide ban on all organohalogen flame retardants in electronic casings that took effect in 2021 (source).

Newer Flame Retardants

New flame retardants include phosphorus-based flame retardants, metal hydroxide flame retardants, and inorganic flame retardants like:

• aluminum diethylphosphinate
• aluminum hydroxide
• aluminum phosphonate FR
• magnesium hydroxide
• melamine polyphosphate
• silicon dioxide

These are all considered less harmful than halogenated flame retardants (that class includes PBDEs).

“Aluminum diethylphosphinate has a moderate aquatic toxicity hazard whereas silicon dioxide, because of its inhalation of particles less than 10μm in size, has a high dose of toxicity. While the other flame retardants have low toxicity designations.” (Source)

Bio-based compounds are being developed as flame retardants in electronics as well, these include lignin, tannin, starch, chitosan, and proteins and DNA in combination with either phosphorus and/or nitrogen (source).

Better Brands of Electronics

Most brands are not using PBDEs (Polybrominated diphenyl ethers), at least in countries where they are outlawed, as well as all brominated and chlorinated flame retardants, but that does not mean the whole class of halogenated flame retardants are banned.

Apple and Sony seem to have gone the furthest with reducing toxicants including flame retardants.

Apple: Has phased out brominated flame retardants including PBDEs. It replaced them with metal hydroxides and phosphorus compounds, they said. (That should mean that they do not use halogenated flame retardants at all, but they have not said that exactly).

Dell: Eliminated PBDEs, brominated flame retardants, and chlorinated flame retardants.

HP (Hewlett-Packard): Restricts the use of brominated and chlorinated flame retardants.

Lenovo: Has phased out completely the use of brominated and chlorinated flame retardants in all mechanical plastic parts (such as external covers, housings, etc.) across all its products.

Sony: Effective date of the ban January 1, 2024 all halogenated flame retardants on plastic enclosures and stands of electronic displays, including televisions, monitors, and digital signage displays with a screen, as well as labels, tapes, etc. attached to the plastic enclosures and stands and all plastic materials.

Samsung: Has not fully banned PBDEs or the category of brominated flame retardants as of 2022.

LG Electronics: Has not fully or clearly banned PBDEs or the category of brominated flame retardants as of 2019 or per their website in 2024.

Acer: Has not eliminated brominated flame retardants according to their website.

Panasonic: Has begun to produce some brominated-flame-retardant-free products, where it is viable to do so (so far just light bulbs).

Leaching of Flame Retardants From Electronics

Flame retardants are used in the plastic casings of electronics and in the circuit boards. The chemicals make up a significant portion of the product.

Flame retardant chemicals can migrate out of electronics and get into indoor air, and household dust, and make their way into our bodies, posing risks to families and pets, says Toxic-Free Future.

How to Clean Up Flame Retardants In The Home

1. Get a HEPA Vacuum

Flame retardants become mobile in dust more often than in gas. So keeping a dust-free home is of utmost importance. 

David Suzuki says household dust is one of the most significant sources of childhood exposure to toxic substances.

A HEPA vacuum is necessary to clean up these toxins and is one of the biggest improvements to air quality in the home that you can do right now.

The Nilfisk brand is recommended by the experts and is affordable. This is my first choice for most situations.

A more DIY option where you can get a lot of bang for your buck is to add a HEPA filter to a Shop-Vac. (HEPA filter bags are also needed to catch all the fine dust). Shop vacs are louder than the other options here.

Another great high-quality brand is Miele HEPA.

A step-up would be a certified HEPA model like Festool which is more foolproof in its filtration system.

2. Vacuum & Wet Wipe, Don’t Sweep!

Vacuuming is more effective than other forms of cleaning.

You should use an attachment to vacuum upholstered furniture and mattresses as well. Don’t forget about your car seats!

Sweeping is not a good idea to clean up contaminants found in household dust. But wet wiping with wet clothes (that don’t contain FRs or harmful plastics themselves) is the next best method.

Wet wipe the dashboard of your vehicle as well (which contains high levels of flame retardants).

If you need to dry wipe something sensitive that can’t get wet, use materials that capture dust like microfiber cloths and dry Swiffers.

3. Using Air Filters 

The best way to remove particulates from the air, including dust and flame retardants, is a HEPA air filter.

If you don’t need to filter for VOCs, you only need a simple HEPA filter with a high enough CFM (fan size) to move enough air in a room to make a dent in the dust. 

I use the Vornado which has true HEPA, a good CFM, and is very well priced. It has some carbon and a photocatalytic (PCO) elements. It is the best value I have seen for an air purifier with these three technologies which work well on mold and particulates.

I have a post with more details about the Vornado and what CFM means in terms of airflow here.

Other basic air filters can be used like the Honeywell and GermGuardian. Make sure it’s true HEPA, has a decent CFM (ability to move air through it), and is not too loud. Some Honeywells are known for being loud.

One other point of comparison is the cost of replacement filters.

If you want to pair HEPA with a VOC filter to help with offgassing, you will be looking at more expensive brands. I compare my top picks for absorbing VOCs in this post.

Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.