 n
the interview below, we talk with Robin Law about his paper,
"Levels and trends of polybrominated diphenylethers and
other brominated flame retardants in wildlife" (Environ.
Int. 29[6]: 757-70, Sept. 2003), which is a core paper in
the Brominated Flame Retardants in the Environment
Research Front, part of our
Special Topic on Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs).
This paper currently has 89 citations to its credit in
Essential
Science IndicatorsSM.
Law’s record in our database includes 25 papers cited a
total of 653 times to date in the field of Environment &
Ecology. Law is an environmental chemist working at Cefas,
the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science,
in the UK. |
 Would
you please describe the significance of your paper and why it is highly
cited?
The paper is highly cited because it provided a timely summary of
levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in wildlife and highlighted
their widespread distribution in the environment. It was
particularly timely because the years 2003-07 have shown a large
increase in the number of groups studying PBDEs and other brominated
flame retardants (BFRs) and their environmental impact.
How
did you become involved in this research and were there any particular
successes or obstacles that stand out?
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“What we need to ensure is that the BFRs that
are used in the future are those which are effective in
preventing fatal fires but which carry the least possible
environmental impact.” |
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We originally became involved in this area of research when we
undertook the first UK survey of PBDEs in 1996-97 for the UK
Department of the Environment. We were expecting to conduct a small
one-off survey, but found very high levels of PBDEs in NE England in
sediments and biota in the Rivers Skerne and Tees downstream of a
plant manufacturing brominated flame retardants. This research (Allchin
CR, Law RJ, and Morris S, "Polybrominated diphenylethers [PBDEs] in
sediments and biota downstream of potential sources in the UK,"
Environmental Pollution 105: 197-207, 1999) led us to initiate a
wider program on BFRs in the environment, which continues today.
Where
do you see your research and the broader field leading in the future?
Of particular importance today are decabromodiphenyl ether and
hexabromocyclododecane, following EU restrictions on the production
and use of the penta- and octa-mix PBDE formulations. Environmental
studies for tetrabromobispenol-A (TBBP-A) also need to be
undertaken, particularly in Asia, as it is a high-volume product but
one which is used in a reactive rather than an additive mode. If
there are significant levels in the environment they will be found
where TBBP-A is produced and used, principally in the manufacture of
printed circuit boards.
Does
your work have any social or political implications?
This work on brominated flame retardants has social implications
because these products are used to flame-retard a wide range of
household products, which reduces deaths due to fire. What we need
to ensure is that the BFRs that are used in the future are those
which are effective in preventing fatal fires but which carry the
least possible environmental impact.
Robin J. Law
Cefas, Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science
UK
<• Return to
Research Front Map.
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Robin Law's
most-cited paper (also
represented in the Research
Front map)
with 89 cites to date: |
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Law
RJ, et al., "Levels and trends of
polybrominated diphenylethers and other brominated
flame retardants in wildlife," Environ. Int.
29(6): 757-70, September 2003.
Source:
Essential Science Indicators. |
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ESI Special
Topics: August 2007
Citing URL: http://esi-topics.com/pbde/interviews/RobinLaw.html
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