Arturo Gavilan García, Deputy Director of Chemical Studies, National Institute of Ecology (INE-Semarnat) and Chair of the PBDE Team of the SMOC Project, spoke at the CEC Chemicals Management Forum in San Antonio, Texas, on May 15, 2012. More at: http://www.cec.org/chemicals2012

1. Implementation of
Risk Reduction Strategies
PBDE Team
Chemicals Management Forum
San Antonio, Texas
May 15-16, 2012
Commission for Environmental Cooperation

2. Background and Mandate
• The CEC SMOC Working Group established a
tri-national polybrominated diphenyl ethers
(PBDEs) team to identify opportunities for
collaboration in managing this group of
substances in North America with the
objective to reduce environmental and
health risks.
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3. PBDE Team Objectives
• To develop a strategy that identifies potential risk
reduction activities and recommend a work plan to
implement them.
• To share information on PBDE potential hazards, and
routes and magnitude of exposures.
• To identify activities that will reduce the risks
presented by PBDEs.
• To increase interest, engagement and participation of
stakeholders in PBDE risk-reduction activities.
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4. Group members
• Each country designated representatives and
one alternate to be on the PBDE team.
• The members work collaboratively to carry out
the activities of the working plan.
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5. Activities timeline
Development of a PBDE content in Characterization of Characterization of PBDE and BFR
PBDE Matrix of PBDE content in in landfill leacheates and biosolids
plastics and
Current Status end-of-life products of North America
polymers of
In the three in two typical
countries (US, electronic landfills in Mexico Identification of PBDE and BFR
CAN, MEX) products used in SMEs in Mexico
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
PBDE Information PBDE PBDE content in Analysis of Identification
working exchange among children’s blood from available and
the three diagnosis four metropolitan techniques and
group priorization of
countries (US, in Mexico areas of Mexico environmental PBDE and
creation in CAN, MEX) (El Refugio, SLP; San practices for the
the CEC BFR
Juan Tilapa, Edo management in
alternatives
MEX; Ciudad Juárez, recycling and waste
CHIH; Tlachaloya, management
in Mexico
Edo MEX streams
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6. Relevant activities
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7. 2009
• PBDE Mexican Inventory
– Development of the diagnosis of
consumption, use, disposal and release of PBDEs in
Mexican market and environment, particularly for the
commercial mixtures of Penta, Octa and Deca
BDEs, either in its pure form or contained in
imported, exported and manufactured products and
formulations.
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8. 2010
• PBDEs flow in landfills
– Identify the PBDEs containing materials that are included in the wastes
taken at two typical landfills in Mexico (Tlalnepantla and Bordo Poniente).
• PBDEs in blood
– Analyze the concentration of PBDEs in blood of children from exposed
populations in three locations of Mexico.
– Sampling in the communities of Milpillas, El Refugio (S.L.P.); Ciudad Juarez
(Chihuahua); San Juan Tilapa, Tlachaloya (Estado de México).
– Propose potential routes of exposure to PBDEs to support the
development of needs assessment.
Ciudad Juárez,
Chihuahua
El Refugio, Cd.
Fernández, San
Luis Potosí
San Juan Tilapa,
Estado de México
Tlachaloya,
Estado de México
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9. 2011
• Identification of BFRs used in SME’s in Mexico
– Identify the contribution of BFR´s used in SME´s in Mexico and the action
lines to risk reduction strategies.
– Describe the environmental and socio-economic implication for the use
of BFRs and alternatives to them.
• BFRs in landfill leachate and biosolids in North America
– Identify the contribution of brominated flame retardants in landfills and
biosolids from Mexican landfills as well as capacity building for analysis.
– Field visits to two landfills in Mexico to sample leachates and biosolids
for subsequent analysis.
– Technical training of Mexican researchers for preparation, extraction of
samples and analysis samples.
• Available techniques and environmental practices for the
management of waste streams with BFRs
– Identify known approaches to the management in recycling and waste
management streams of plastic products containing brominated flame
retardants, including, incineration, land-fill management, and recycling
and/or separation.
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10. Next steps (2012)
• Identification and prioritization of
alternatives to PBDEs/ BFRs, with
characterization of risks and costs in
specific applications in Mexico
• Second phase of the
characterization of PBDEs/BFRs in
landfill leachate and biosolids.
Focus on capacity building for
analysis in Mexico.
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11. Path forward
• Knowledge increased on presence and releases of
PBDEs in North America.
• Continue assessment on PBDEs/other BFR
releases to environment.
• Trinateral cooperation to identify approaches for
risk reduction in North America.
• Knowledge increased on alternatives.
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12. Transparency and public access
to information
• Developing a fact sheet
with information on
BFRs used in Mexico.
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13. More information available
• Commission for Environmental Cooperation
– http://www.cec.org/
• US Environmental Protection Agency
– http://www.epa.gov
• Environment Canada
– http://www.ec.gc.ca
• Instituto Nacional de Ecología
– http://www.ine.gob.mx
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14. Thank you!
Merci!
¡Gracias!
Three countries. One environment.
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