Nature groups call for Clean Water Bill to tackle chemical flame retardants

(by Karma Loveday)

Hazardous and persistent chemical flame retardants (CFRs) were found in most English rivers, and at unsafe levels in all wildlife samples scrutinised, in new analysis of Environment Agency and water industry data by The Rivers Trust and Wildlife and Countryside Link.

The findings included:

• PBDE (Polybrominated diphenyl ethers) flame retardants were banned in 2004 but were found at unsafe levels in freshwater and marine fish at every site tested. They were also detected, at variable levels, in sewage sludge, raising concerns about contamination of soils and crops.

• DBDPE (Decabromo-diphenyl ethane), a chemical which replaced a banned PBDE and is widely used in UK furniture, was detected in almost all river sites sampled in 2021. At over 50% of these sites, it was found above safe levels, in some cases by more than ten times.

  
  

The groups also warned that major monitoring gaps may be masking the true scale of pollution. Only two banned CFRs have regulatory standards in water, and there is no routine monitoring of CFRs in river or coastal sediments, where many of these chemicals accumulate. They offered the example that levels of the banned flame retardant HBCDD in rivers have fallen since regulation was introduced, but its low solubility means it is likely to persist in sediments. Without monitoring, the environmental risks from these long-term pollution stores remain unknown. 

The Rivers Trust and WCL pointed out that the UK accounts for 25% of global CFR use, yet it remains behind the EU and other countries in regulating these hazardous chemicals. Richard Benwell, WCL chief executive, said: “Since Brexit, the UK has fallen behind the rest of Europe in restricting toxic chemicals. The Government now has a once-in-a-generation chance, through the new Clean Water Bill, to get a grip on chemical pollution, make polluters pay for tougher wastewater treatment, and bring the UK up to the highest international standards.”