Flame retardant — polybrominated diphenyl ether

BDE-100 in the bedroom

By — 19-year firefighter and entrepreneur. Published July 2026.

BDE-100 (2,2',4,4',6-pentabromodiphenyl ether) is one of the major congeners of the pentaBDE commercial mixture — alongside BDE-47 and BDE-99 — that was used as a flame retardant in polyurethane foam furniture from the 1970s until its phase-out in the mid-2000s. IARC has not classified BDE-100 for carcinogenicity. PentaBDE is listed as a persistent organic pollutant (POP) under the Stockholm Convention. BDE-100 is found in house dust and breast milk at concentrations that have been declining since the pentaBDE phase-out but remain detectable, particularly in North American homes where PBDE-treated furniture is still in use.

BDE-100 — Embr Bedroom Chemistry Atlas

At a glance

Chemical familyPolybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) — pentaBDE congener (2,2',4,4',6-penta-substituted)
CAS number189084-64-8
ClassificationNot individually classified by IARC. Stockholm Convention POP (pentaBDE listing). Thyroid-disrupting and neurodevelopmentally toxic. EU banned under the POP Regulation (phased out by 2004 in the EU). US voluntarily phased out by Great Lakes Chemical (2005)
Where you encounter itPolyurethane foam in furniture manufactured before ~2005; house dust (legacy contamination); breast milk and human blood serum; electronic waste recycling
Sleep micro-environment relevanceFound in house dust from legacy PBDE-treated furniture. Declining but still detectable. Mattresses and couches made before 2005 may contain pentaBDE. Dust is the primary exposure route during sleep

Regulatory & certification status

European UnionPentaBDE banned under the POP Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/1021). EU Directive 2003/11/EC banned pentaBDE and octaBDE in products from 2004. No longer manufactured or sold. Regulatory
United StatesGreat Lakes Chemical voluntarily phased out pentaBDE production by December 2004 (EPA agreement). Several states banned pentaBDE independently. Legacy-treated furniture remains in use. Regulatory
CanadaPolybrominated Diphenyl Ethers Regulations (SOR/2008-218) prohibit manufacture, import, and sale of pentaBDE. Regulatory
InternationalStockholm Convention POP (listed 2009). Not individually IARC classified. Global production ceased but legacy contamination persists in existing furniture and waste streams. Regulatory

What it is

BDE-100 is a pentasubstituted congener of the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) — a class of brominated flame retardants that were mixed into polyurethane foam to meet flammability standards. The commercial pentaBDE product (DE-71, manufactured by Great Lakes Chemical, now Chemtura/LANXESS) was a mixture of BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, and minor congeners. PBDEs are additive flame retardants — they are blended into the foam rather than chemically bonded, which means they migrate out over time. IARC has not evaluated individual PBDE congeners. The Stockholm Convention listed pentaBDE and octaBDE as POPs in 2009 based on evidence of persistence, bioaccumulation, long-range transport, and adverse effects. BDE-100 has been shown to disrupt thyroid hormone signalling and impair neurodevelopment in animal studies.

Where it shows up in bedding

BDE-100 enters the bedroom through house dust from furniture containing PBDE-treated polyurethane foam. Couches, armchairs, and mattresses manufactured before approximately 2005 (in the US; earlier in the EU) may contain pentaBDE. As the foam ages and breaks down, PBDE congeners including BDE-100 migrate to the foam surface and enter the surrounding dust. House dust is the dominant exposure pathway for PBDEs — during sleep, dust on bedding surfaces and resuspended dust in air contribute to both ingestion and inhalation exposure. North American homes have historically higher PBDE dust concentrations than European homes because California's TB117 flammability standard drove widespread PBDE use in US furniture. Replacing pre-2005 upholstered furniture is the most effective way to reduce legacy PBDE exposure.

Citations

  1. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants — PentaBDE listing (2009). Source Regulatory
  2. Stapleton, H.M. et al. (2005). Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in House Dust and Clothes Dryer Lint. Environmental Science & Technology, 39(4): 925-931. Source Peer-reviewed
  3. EPA. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) Action Plan. Source Regulatory

Frequently asked questions

  • Is BDE-100 still in my couch?

    If your upholstered furniture (couch, armchair, or mattress) was manufactured in the US before approximately 2005, it may contain pentaBDE flame retardants including BDE-100. The PBDE migrates from foam to dust over time. Older furniture with deteriorating foam is a more significant source than newer furniture. If you see crumbling yellow foam, it may be PBDE-treated. Replacing it with post-2005 furniture or TB117-2013 compliant furniture reduces this legacy exposure.

  • Are PBDEs still declining in house dust?

    Yes. House dust PBDE concentrations have been declining in most studies since the pentaBDE phase-out, as treated furniture is gradually replaced. However, the decline is slow because furniture has a long service life (10-20 years or more). North American homes, which historically had the highest PBDE dust levels globally, still show detectable BDE-100 in dust surveys.

Related compounds

  • BDE-47 — the most abundant pentaBDE congener in house dust
  • BDE-99 — another major pentaBDE congener
  • BDE-209 — the dominant decaBDE congener still in some products
  • TPHP — an organophosphate FR used as a PBDE replacement

Embr is a sleep environment company researching and addressing the chemistry of the bedroom. Research and product development in progress.

Last reviewed 2026-07-08. If you find a factual error, contact us.