DWI finds human health not at risk from flame retardant chemicals in drinking water

Flame retardant chemicals in drinking water “are likely to present no appreciable risk to human health”. That’s according to a study from the Drinking Water Inspectorate. It found that “assumed emission rates [of these chemicals] are unrealistically high" and suggested that "high margins of safety currently exist for human health, even in the absence of advanced treatment”.

Organophosphorous flame retardants (OPFRs) are a widely-used class of additive chemicals designed to improve fire safety in electronics, furniture, textiles, construction and plastics. They have been frequently detected in environmental and biological samples, raising concerns about their potential impact on surface waters and groundwater, including sources used for drinking water. The DWI said numerous studies have highlighted the potential harmful effects on human health and the environment.

In 2022, the Inspectorate funded research to begin to understand whether OPFRs might pose a risk to human health via drinking water. This included this latest project to further characterise the risks of OPFRs in drinking water in England and Wales.

Alongside the positive conclusion for human health, the study recommendations included: 

• Obtaining accurate data on the tonnage of OPFR substances across various industries to significantly enhance the understanding of potential environmental release sources. There is high uncertainty and limited knowledge of the UK flame retardant market. 

• Focusing on the monitoring of TEHP, TCIPP, EHDPP, TCEP, and TEP in environmental and treated drinking waters. These are the OPFR substances most frequently detected in raw and treated drinking waters in England and Wales.

• Global public health and safety organisation NSF has launched Protocol 534, a solution specifically designed to certify pre-products and raw materials used in drinking water applications, to validate their compliance with the EU Drinking Water Directive. NSF said the solution “solves a critical gap in the EU DWD 2020/2184, which currently lacks provisions for these essential components despite the looming January 2027 compliance deadline”. Certification testing is available immediately.