Investigation of Flame Retardants on Ships

Flame retardants are used in many materials to increase fire safety, but several of these substances can also pose risks to human health and the environment. The ShipsFLAME project investigates the presence and impact of flame retardants on crew members aboard Swedish ships – with the goal of contributing to safer and more sustainable marine environments.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has developed the 2010 Fire Test Procedure Code (FTP Code), which establishes performance-based criteria for materials used in ship interiors. However, the regulation does not specify the types or concentrations of chemical flame retardants in marine materials. These chemicals are emitted from materials and contaminate the indoor environment on ships.

The presence of flame retardants aboard ships is a natural consequence of the need for fire-resistant materials and products in the marine sector. Many flame retardants are classified as hazardous chemicals associated with health risks such as endocrine disruption (e.g., reduced male fertility), developmental toxicity, and carcinogenic potential. There is considerable uncertainty regarding the types and quantities of flame retardants used to meet IMO’s fire safety standards – and therefore added by manufacturers to materials.

Crew exposure on ships can be particularly high since crew members spend long periods – from weeks to months – onboard. A pilot study on foreign vessels has also detected alarmingly high levels of flame retardants, where exposure risks exceeded reference values.

Historically, brominated flame retardants (BFRs) were the compounds of choice to improve flame resistance in construction materials, furniture, and electronics. Exposure to BFRs has been linked to significant health concerns, leading to international restrictions and their gradual replacement with alternative organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs). The restrictions on the use of certain flame retardants and their substitution with other chemicals are reflected in reports of decreasing concentrations of the former and increasing concentrations of the latter in indoor environments and human biomonitoring studies. This trend reflects the replacement of restricted chemicals with their substitutes in construction materials, furnishings, and electronic devices. It is likely that shipbuilding and furnishing materials and equipment show a similar pattern.

It is reasonable to expect that the types and concentrations of flame retardants differ between newly built and older ships, depending on when flame retardant restrictions were introduced.

Purpose and Objectives

The ShipsFLAME project aims to:

• Map the occurrence of flame retardants on Swedish ships
• Estimate seafarers’ exposure to these substances through measurements of dust in ship indoor environments and via biomonitoring
• Propose a strategy for selecting marine construction and interior materials that meet high standards for both fire safety and chemical safety
  

Implementation

The presence of flame retardants is determined by measuring their concentrations in dust collected from various work and living areas on board. Dust serves as a medium for chemicals and acts both as an indirect indicator of indoor pollution and a direct exposure pathway. Dust is collected using a vacuum cleaner fitted with a filter. Crew exposure to flame retardants is determined by analyzing biomarker levels – metabolites of flame retardants – in urine samples. The project has ethical approval (nr 2025-04120-01) from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority to collect the urine samples and analyze them for flame retardant residues.

Through interviews with shipowners and shipbuilders, and by gathering information about the types, brands, and names of interior construction materials and furnishings on ships, the project will identify the types and levels of chemical flame retardants present in these products. The goal is to identify alternative materials that meet high requirements for both the fire safety and chemical safety containing either lower levels of flame retardants, less harmful chemicals, or both