At a glance
| Chemical family | Chlorinated flame retardant — Dechlorane family |
| CAS number | 13560-89-9 |
| Classification | Stockholm Convention Annex A (elimination, 2023); EU SVHC (PBT); Canada SOR/2025-270 prohibited |
| Where you encounter it | Flame retardant in electronics (circuit boards, connectors), wire and cable coatings, polymers, adhesives; detectable in household dust; historically in automotive parts |
| Sleep micro-environment relevance | Electronics in the bedroom (chargers, lamps, alarm clocks, power strips) may contain DP as a flame retardant. DP migrates from treated products into household dust over time |
Regulatory & certification status
| European Union | SVHC (Candidate List — PBT). Listed under the EU POP Regulation following the Stockholm Convention Annex A listing (2023). Manufacturing and placing on market being phased out with time-limited exemptions. Regulatory — European Union authority |
| Canada | Prohibited under the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025 (SOR/2025-270), in force 30 June 2026. Extended exemptions for certain manufacturing uses until 2040. Regulatory — Canada authority |
| International | Stockholm Convention Annex A (elimination, 2023). The newest listed POP. Exemptions allow continued production and use in specific applications with defined phase-out dates. Regulatory — International authority |
| Certifications | Not typically a named parameter in sleep-product certifications (CertiPUR-US, GREENGUARD) since it is not a foam or textile ingredient. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 restricts chlorinated flame retardants broadly. Industry |
What it is
Dechlorane Plus is a bis(cyclodiene) compound — structurally related to mirex but with a two-carbon bridge between the chlorinated cage units rather than mirex's direct bond. It was developed by Hooker Chemical (later Occidental Chemical, OxyChem) as a 'safer' replacement for mirex in flame-retardant applications after mirex was banned in the 1970s. For nearly 50 years, DP was treated as a non-POP chlorinated FR — until accumulating environmental monitoring data showed it is persistent, bioaccumulative, and subject to long-range transport, meeting all the POP criteria. The Stockholm Convention listed it under Annex A in 2023, with extended exemptions for some manufacturing uses.
Where it shows up in bedding
DP is not added to bedding products directly. Its bedroom relevance comes from the electronics that surround the sleeping environment: alarm clocks, phone chargers, bedside lamps, power strips, and the wiring in walls and extension cords all may contain DP as a flame retardant in their plastic housings and insulation. Over time, DP migrates from these products into household dust through abrasion, volatilisation, and direct contact. Studies have consistently detected DP in indoor dust at levels comparable to some brominated flame retardants. The sleeping environment — where dust is inhaled at close range for 7–9 hours — amplifies the exposure significance.
Citations
- Stockholm Convention (2023). Listing of Dechlorane Plus — Annex A. Source Regulatory
- ECHA. Substance Information: Dechlorane Plus. Source Regulatory
- Government of Canada. SOR/2025-270. Source Regulatory
Frequently asked questions
Is Dechlorane Plus in my mattress?
Almost certainly not — DP is used in electronics and wiring, not in mattress materials or textiles. Its bedroom relevance is indirect: the electronics around your bed (chargers, lamps, clocks, power strips) and the wiring in your walls may contain DP as a flame retardant in their plastic components. Over time, DP migrates from these products into household dust, which you inhale during sleep.
Why was Dechlorane Plus only recently listed as a POP?
DP was developed as a 'replacement' for mirex and was assumed to be less problematic because early assessments focused on acute toxicity rather than persistence and bioaccumulation. It took decades of environmental monitoring — detection in Arctic wildlife, remote lakes, and indoor dust worldwide — to build the evidence case that DP meets all four POP criteria (persistence, bioaccumulation, long-range transport, adverse effects). The Stockholm Convention listing process itself took years of scientific review and political negotiation.
Related compounds
Embr is a sleep environment company researching and addressing the chemistry of the bedroom. Research and product development in progress.
Last reviewed 2026-07-07. If you find a factual error, contact us.