Overview
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers are a family of brominated flame retardants. They are persistent and build up in living organisms, which is why they face restrictions beyond electronics. DecaBDE is the best-known member.
Where it's restricted
Under RoHS PBDEs are capped at 0.1 percent by weight per homogeneous material. DecaBDE, a common member of the family, also falls under the POP Regulation and is restricted by REACH Annex XVII.
The closely related biphenyls are covered separately in PBB.
Typical uses
PBDEs were added as flame retardants to plastics and textiles. Several members have been phased out, and DecaBDE now sits under multiple overlapping controls.
DecaBDE shows how one substance can be hit by several regimes at once. RoHS, POP and REACH all apply, and the strictest rule governs.
Note: this is general educational information and not legal advice. Always check the official source before relying on it.