Chapter 8: Applications and Safety Assessment of Green Fire Retardants

This chapter briefly reviews the development and application of green and conventional flame retardants, specifically the advantages and disadvantages of using “green” vs. “non-green” flame retardants are compared in detail. Typical green fire retardants for polypropylene, poly(lactic acid), and epoxy resins are summarized. Furthermore, the future development and problems of green flame retardants are also discussed and proposed. Finally, the impact of metal-based flame retardants on the environment and the human body is analysed, and the safety prospects of flame retardants and flame retardant materials are discussed. Thus, it is an urgent requirement to clarify the toxicological mechanism and the potential ecological health risks of flame retardants, to minimize the impact and potential long-term effects on the environment and human health.