UPSC Prelims 2014 · Question 76 of 100

UPSC Prelims 2014 question on Brominated Flame Retardants

Brominated flame retardants are used in many household products like mattresses and upholstery. Why is there some concern about their use?

1. They are highly resistant to degradation in the environment.
2. They are able to accumulate in humans and animals.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer

Answer: C. Both 1 and 2

Verdict

The answer is both 1 and 2. Brominated flame retardants are of concern because they resist degradation and because they accumulate in humans and animals.

Analysis

Statement 1 is CORRECT. These compounds are environmentally persistent, which is why several of them are addressed as persistent organic pollutants. Statement 2 is CORRECT. Being lipophilic and persistent, they bioaccumulate in fatty tissue and biomagnify up the food chain, and they have been detected in human samples, with concerns about endocrine and developmental effects.

Source

European Food Safety Authority topic material on brominated flame retardants.

How to crack it

Persistence and bioaccumulation travel together as a pair, so once you accept one you should normally accept the other, since a compound that does not degrade is exactly a compound that builds up in tissue. That single link converts an unfamiliar chemical into a familiar pattern, the same pattern as DDT, PCBs and dioxins. If a synthetic organic compound is described as resistant to degradation, expect the full persistent organic pollutant profile. The news hook here was electronic waste reporting, where these compounds appear as a component.

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