Sources

There is no reference in the published literature to the natural occurrence of HBCD in the environment. Sources of exposure to HBCD are anthropogenic.

Results from an industry survey, as reported under section 71 of CEPA 1999, show that HBCD was not manufactured above reporting thresholds in Canada in 2000, although amounts in the range of 100 000 - 1 000 000 kg of the substance were imported into Canada in that year (Environment Canada 2001).

Globally, HBCD is a U.S. high production volume chemical (HPV) and is produced in quantities above 16 700 tonnes/annum (Heeb et al. 2005). Annual U.S. production/import volumes were between 10 and 50 million pounds (4535 - 22 679 tonnes) for the reporting years 1994, 1998 and 2002 (US EPA 2002). Global demand for HBCD was estimated at 16 700 tonnes in 2001, representing 8.2% of the total brominated flame retardant demand for that year and placing HBCD third in global production after tetrabromobisphenol A and decabromodiphenyl ether (BSEF 2005). Major markets in 2001 were Europe (9500 tonnes), where HBCD is classified as a high production volume chemical, Asia (3900 tonnes) and the Americas (2800 tonnes).