Halogens, a “need to” “must not” dilemma

Halogens appear everywhere in nature. The element group classifying chemicals like chlorine, fluorine or bromine are known as halogens. They are also essential for human life; for example, chlorine is needed in processes linked to building (anabolism) and breaking down (catabolism) body tissues.

But even beyond that, due to their unique performance properties, relative low cost and abundance, modern use of halogens in the world around us is extensive. They are needed for use in swimming pools (chlorine and bromine), drinking water (chlorine and fluorine), toothpaste (fluorine) as well as in table salt (chlorine). Halogens are also widely used in electrical and electronic products.

Managing risk

Despite their several benefits, there are risks associated. If halogen compounds catch fire, they release corrosive and toxic gases which become an environmental and health risk. In addition, the wide use of halogen compounds in several consumer products has the potential to create toxic wastes, in particular in countries where the disposal of products containing halogens is not well managed.

Regulators and legislators are keen to tackle this problem. Experts from organizations like the IEC are developing standards for the determination, quantification and possible limitation of halogen content in materials and products.

However, there is often a lack of consistency, in the different terms used to express similar halogen content such as halogen free, non-halogenated, zero halogen and low halogen. Different limits for halogens are sometimes used when employing the same term and, sometimes, similar terms are used when referring to different halogen types.

This makes it harder for regulators to manage safe levels of halogen use, and for the consumer to know if they are within safe limits of exposure.

A new guide for experts and policymakers

ACEA, the Advisory Committee for Environmental Action, that advises IEC's technical committees on environmental considerations, has developed a new guide to help standard writers and policymakers get on the same page. The IEC Guide for defining halogen content terminology in IEC Standards, will bring clarity on terminology in the use of halogen and address the issues that cause variations.

If you wish to learn more about how the new IEC Guide and the impact it can have for regulating halogen risks, join the IEC webinar on the role of standards in defining halogenated materials, on 9 September.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.