Brominated flame retardants: cause for concern?

Birnbaum, Linda S.; Staskal, Daniele F.

doi:10.1289/ehp.6559

Cited by 1,535 publications

(998 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Besides, the contribution of BDE183 indicated the likely use of substantial octa-BDE products. The penta-BDE, octa-BDE, and deca-BDE pattern in the sludge corresponded well with the PBDEs usage pattern in Asia in 2001, i.e., 150, 1,500, and 23,000 T, respectively (Birnbaum et al 2004).…”

Section: Composition Analysissupporting

confidence: 66%

Levels, compositions, and inventory of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in sewage sludge of Guangdong Province, South China

Ran

Yang

Liu

et al. 2013

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in sewage sludge samples collected from major wastewater treatment plants in Guangdong Province, South China. Concentrations of ∑ 39 PBDE (all 39 compounds including tri-to hepta-PBDE congeners except for BDE-209) ranged from 3.6 to 428 ng/g dw with a mean value of 67.4 ng/g dw and a median value of 25.9 ng/g dw, and those of BDE-209 ranged from 9.9 to 5,010 ng/g dw (mean 1,024 ng/g dw and median 824 ng/g dw). The PBDE mixtures detected were mainly comprised of penta-, octa-, and deca-BDEs, with deca-BDE as the dominant constituent. The most abundant congeners, excluding BDE-209, were BDE-47, BDE-99, and BDE-183. Good correlations were found among the concentrations of BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-138, and BDE-154 (r>0.8). However, poor correlations were found between the concentrations of BDE-209 and all other congeners (r<0.3). This fact suggests that most tri-to hepta-BDEs detected did not originate from decomposition of deca-BDE. The estimated annual emission of ∑ all PBDEs, ∑ 39 PBDEs, penta-BDE, octa-BDE, and deca-BDE to the Pearl River Delta environment (PRD), based on the sludge samples analyzed, amounts to 232, 20.2, 5.5, 1.7, and 212 kg per year, implicating sewage sludge as a significant source of PBDEs to the PRD environment.

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Section: Composition Analysissupporting

confidence: 66%

Levels, compositions, and inventory of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in sewage sludge of Guangdong Province, South China

Ran

Yang

Liu

et al. 2013

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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“…Persistent bioaccumulation properties have raised significant concerns about the potential ecological and health risks associated with exposure to these chemicals. Because exposure appears to lead to higher concentrations in the tissues of young animals compared with adult animals [1], and young animals may have a reduced ability to excrete PBDEs, the possible developmental effects of these contaminants are a major concern [2][3][4]. The early stages of life are often thought to be a time of greater sensitivity to the health effects of environmental chemicals, because they represent a time when many critical developmental processes are underway [5,6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute exposure to DE‐71: Effects on locomotor behavior and developmental neurotoxicity in zebrafish larvae

Chen

Huang

et al. 2012

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Abstract-The aim of the present study was to investigate the acute developmental neurotoxicity of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in zebrafish larvae. From 2 to 120 h postfertilization zebrafish embryos were exposed to 31.0, 68.7, and 227.6 mg/L). The authors studied the locomotor behavior of larvae, involvement of the cholinergic system, and selected gene and protein expressions in the central nervous system. The results showed that low DE-71 concentration caused hyperactivity, whereas higher concentrations decreased activity during the dark period. During the light period, larval activity was significantly reduced in a concentration-dependent manner. In the cholinergic system, acetylcholinesterase activity significantly increased (10.7 and 12.4%) in the 68.7 and 227.6 mg/L exposure groups, respectively, and acetylcholine concentration accordingly decreased (60.5%) in the 227.6 mg/L exposure group. The mRNA expressions of genes encoding myelin basic protein, neuron microtubule protein (a1-tubulin), and sonic hedgehog a were significantly downregulated. Western blotting assay demonstrated that the protein concentration of a1-tubulin was also decreased.Overall, the present study demonstrated that acute exposure to PBDEs can disrupt the neurobehavior of zebrafish larvae and affect cholinergic neurotransmission and neuron development. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:233831: -234431: . # 2012

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“…PCBs and PBDEs were used in electrical devices, textiles, furniture and other household products, foams and plastics (ATSDR, 2001(ATSDR, , 2004Birnbaum and Staskal, 2004). Both groups of pollutants consist of 209 different congeners, which differ in the number and the position of the chlorine or bromine atoms, respectively.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occurrence of anthropogenic and naturally-produced organohalogenated compounds in tissues of Black Sea harbour porpoises

Weijs

Das

Neels

et al. 2010

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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a b s t r a c tHarbour porpoises are one of the three cetacean species inhabiting the Black Sea. This is the first study to report on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and naturally-produced compounds, methoxylated PBDEs (MeO-PBDEs) and polybrominated hexahydroxanthene derivatives (PBHDs), in tissues (kidney, brain, blubber, liver, muscle) of male harbour porpoises (11 adults, 9 juveniles) from the Black Sea. Lipid-normalized concentrations decreased from muscle > blubber > liver > kidney > brain for the sum of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and for the sum of PBDEs. Among the naturally-produced compounds, levels of PBHDs were higher than of MeO-PBDEs, with tri-BHD and 6-MeO-BDE 47 being the dominant compounds for both groups, respectively. Concentrations of naturally-produced compounds decreased from blubber to brain, similarly to the sum of DDT and metabolites (DDXs). Concentrations of DDXs were highest, followed by PCBs, HCB, PBHDs, PBDEs and MeO-PBDEs. Levels of PCBs and PBDEs in blubber were lower than concentrations reported for harbour porpoises from the North Sea, while concentrations of DDXs were higher.

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Brominated flame retardants: cause for concern?

Cited by 1,535 publications

References 61 publications

Levels, compositions, and inventory of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in sewage sludge of Guangdong Province, South China

Levels, compositions, and inventory of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in sewage sludge of Guangdong Province, South China

Acute exposure to DE‐71: Effects on locomotor behavior and developmental neurotoxicity in zebrafish larvae

Occurrence of anthropogenic and naturally-produced organohalogenated compounds in tissues of Black Sea harbour porpoises

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