Polybrominated diphenyl ethers

Federal government websites often end in. The site is secure.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers PBDEs and polybrominated biphenyls PBBs belong to a class of chemicals that are added to certain manufactured products in order to reduce the chances that the products will catch on fire. Finished products that may contain PBDEs are furniture foam padding; wire insulation; rugs, draperies, and upholstery; and plastic cabinets for televisions, personal computers, and small appliances. These chemicals can get into the air, water, and soil during their manufacture; they can leak from products that contain them or escape when the products that contain them break down. They do not dissolve easily in water; they stick to particles and settle to the bottom of rivers or lakes. Some PBDEs can build up in certain fish and mammals when they eat contaminated food or water. Another source of exposure results from breathing contaminated air or swallowing contaminated dust.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers

Since repeated exposure to PBDEs results in accumulation of these chemicals in the body, the Panel estimated the body burden at the BMDL in rodents, and the chronic intake that would lead to the same body burden in humans. For the remaining six congeners no studies were available to identify Reference Points. The Panel concluded that there is scientific basis for inclusion of all 10 congeners in a common assessment group and performed a combined risk assessment. The Panel concluded that the combined margin of exposure MOET approach was the most appropriate risk metric and applied a tiered approach to the risk characterisation. Over 84, analytical results for the 10 congeners in food were used to estimate the exposure across dietary surveys and age groups of the European population. The most important contributors to the chronic dietary Lower Bound exposure to PBDEs were meat and meat products and fish and seafood. Taking into account the uncertainties affecting the assessment, the Panel concluded that it is likely that current dietary exposure to PBDEs in the European population raises a health concern. An official EU website. An official website of the European Union. Update of the risk assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers PBDEs in food. Published :. Adopted :. Wiley Online Library.

The less brominated congeners are believed to be more persistent in the atmosphere and can potentially move long distances. Wikimedia Commons.

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers PBDEs are flame retardant chemicals added to products so they won't catch fire or burn so easily if they are exposed to flame or high heat. PBDEs have been used for over 30 years in products such as mattresses, upholstered furniture, foam carpet pads, draperies, television sets, computers, stereos and other electronics, cable insulation, adhesives, and textile coating. PBDEs can migrate out of flame retardant products and accumulate in indoor air, house dust, and eventually the environment. PBDEs do not break down quickly in the environment and can accumulate in the food chain. They have been found in air, soils, sediments, fish, marine mammals, birds and other wildlife, beef, chicken, dairy products, and people's bodies. In people, some PBDEs can stay in the fat and other tissues of the body for long periods.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers PBDEs are a class of synthetic chemicals first produced commercially in the s. They are added to products such as foam padding, textiles, or plastics to retard combustion. Its use was phased out following an accidental contamination of cattle feed in the state of Michigan with the contamination extending to other animals, the environment, and into humans Fries, Three major commercial mixtures of PBDEs have been produced and used. These are named for the average number of bromines attached to the diphenyl ether structure, e. Commercial pentaBDEs are often added to polyurethane foams used in mattresses, upholstered furniture, and carpet padding. OctaBDE mixtures are added to acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene used in computer and appliance casings, and also to some polyolefins and nylon.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers

Commercial products consist predominantly of penta-, octa-, and decabromodiphenyl ether mixtures, and global PBDE production is about 40, tons per year. PBDEs are bioaccumulated and biomagnified in the environment, and comparatively high levels are often found in aquatic biotopes from different parts of the world. During the mids there was a substantial increase in the PBDE levels with time in both sediments and aquatic biota, whereas the latest Swedish data pike and guillemot egg may indicate that levels are at steady state or are decreasing. However, exponentially increasing PBDE levels have been observed in mother's milk during Characteristic end points of animal toxicity are hepatotoxicity, embryotoxicity, and thyroid effects as well as maternal toxicity during gestation. Recently, behavioral effects have been observed in mice on administration of PBDEs during a critical period after birth.

Raylene instagram

People who work in enclosed spaces where PBDE-containing products are manufactured, repaired, or recycled may also have a higher level of exposure. Deca- and octa-BDEs, are known to degrade photolytically to brominated dibenzofurans and dioxins in the lab and under high temperature caused by fires. A structurally similar 2,4-dichloronitro-diphenyl ether preparation nitrofen that is used as an herbicide figure 1 is also thought to induce derangement of thyroid function. The release of 3 H-AA was observed after only 5 to 10 minutes of exposure of cerebellar granule cells in culture. Retrieved A nested case-control study of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and serum organochlorine residues. The site is secure. Concentrations and spatial variations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in fish and air from northeastern United States. Another source of exposure results from breathing contaminated air or swallowing contaminated dust. Skokloster, Sweden: National Chemical Inspectorate; In people, some PBDEs can stay in the fat and other tissues of the body for long periods. Federal government websites often end in.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers PBDEs are a class of recalcitrant and bioaccumulative halogenated compounds that have emerged as a major environmental pollutant.

These concentrations were lower than levels reported on a lipid-weight basis in fish and fish eating mammals. Review of toxicological literature; toxicological summary for selected polybrominated diphenyl ethers. However California, following the lead of the EU, recently became the first state to pass a bill that will phase out the use of penta- and octa-BDE by Bergman; L. Biochim Biophys Acta. Polychlorinated camphenes toxaphenes , polybrominated diphenylethers and other halogenated organic pollutants in glaucous gull Larus hyperboreus from Svalbard and Bjornoya Bear Island Environ Pollut. Acknowledgments Thanks to Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation for providing assistance in the preparation of this manuscript through the services of Graig Eldred and Linda Weis. Copy Download. Cleaning - PBDEs in indoor dust is one of the primary sources of people's exposure. The life-saving benefits of fire retardants led to their popularization.