Responsible Disposal Research for Flame Retarded Plastic and Polyurethane Foam

 描述(申请人提供)：经过有害化学阻燃剂处理的数亿磅泡沫和塑料在当前使用的家具、电子产品和其他产品中被发现。这些阻燃产品可能会在未来几年内继续使用，其中大多数将被送往垃圾填埋场。许多阻燃剂是持久性有机污染物，会在比目前垃圾填埋场的预期寿命更长的时间内分解。含有已被禁用或被证明有害的阻燃剂的产品应得到适当处理，而不是回收到其他产品或填埋，这可能会导致人类和环境的持续暴露。制定负责任地处置经阻燃剂处理的消费品的技术和战略，为改善我国人口和生态系统的健康提供了一个重要机会。为了开发解决这一问题的研究解决方案，我们提议举办一次为期两天的会议，具体目标如下：具体目标1：将来自不同学科的研究科学家和工程师与行业、政策、非营利性环境组织以及具有废物处理技术专业知识的废物管理专家聚集在一起。具体目标#2：确定知识差距并提出科学研究，以开发负责任的阻燃泡沫和塑料处置解决方案。具体目标3：为同行评议期刊准备并提交一篇评论文章，记录在具体目标2中确定的研究需求和方向。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Hundreds of millions of pounds of foam and plastic treated with harmful chemical flame retardants are found in furniture, electronics, and other products in current use. These flame retarded products may remain in use for years to come and most will end up in landfills. Many of flame retardants are persistent organic pollutants that will break down on a timescale longer than the expected life of current landfills. Products containing flame retardants that have been banned or shown to be harmful should be properly disposed of rather than recycled into other products or landfilled, which can result in continued human and environmental exposure. Developing technologies and strategies for the responsible disposal of consumer products treated with flame retardants provides an important opportunity to improve the health of our population and our ecosystems. To develop research solutions to solve this problem, we propose to hold a two day conference with the following specific aims: Specific Aim #1: Bring together research scientists and engineers from a variety of disciplines with industry, policy, nonprofit environmental groups, and waste management experts with expertise in waste disposal techniques. Specific Aim #2: Identify knowledge gaps and propose scientific research to develop responsible disposal solutions for flame-retarded foams and plastics. Specific Aim #3: Prepare and submit a review article for a peer-reviewed journal that documents research needs and directions identified in Specific Aim #2.