Polybrominated Dibenzo-p-dioxins, Dibenzofurans, and Diphenyl Ethers in Japanese Human Adipose Tissue

Abstract

Human adipose samples collected in Tokyo, Japan in 1970 and 2000 were analyzed for the presence of polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PBDDs), dibenzofurans (PBDFs), and diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and the concentrations in the two groups were compared. As far as we know, the concentrations of the PBDD/Fs in adipose tissue from the general Japanese population are reported for the first time. Three PBDD/F congeners were found in the following adipose tissues: 2,3,7,8-TeBDD, 2,3,7,8-TeBDF, and 2,3,4,7,8-PeBDF. The median concentrations (ranges) of three PBDD/Fs in 1970 and 2000 were 5.1 (3.4-8.3) and 3.4 (1.9-5.3) pg/g lipid wt (l.w.), respectively. For PBDEs, seven PBDE congeners were determined in the following samples: 2,4,4'-tribromodiphenyl ether (BDE-28), 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47), 2,2',4,4',5-pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-99), 2,2',4,4',6-pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-100), 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-153), 2,2',4,4',5',6-hexabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-154), and 2,2',3,4,4',5',6-heptabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-183). Median concentrations (ranges) of PBDEs showed a significant increase from 29.2 (6.8-78.4) pg/g l.w. in 1970 to 1288 (466-2,753) pg/g l.w. in 2000. BDE-47, the major congener of PBDEs, was 56.2% and 35.6% of the total in 1970 and 2000, respectively, whereas the BDE-153 was < 1% and 29.7% of the total in 1970 and 2000, respectively. This may indicate that the source of PBDEs had changed during this period. Further analysis of archived human samples from 1970 to 2000 is needed to describe the details of the contamination trends of PBDD/Fs and PBDEs in the Japanese population. Furthermore, PBDD/F monitoring, particularly 2,3,7,8-TeBDD and 2,3,7,8-TeBDF, may give more toxicological information based on TeCDD toxic equivalents (TEQs).

Developmental neurotoxicity of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants

“…PBDDs and PBDFs have been found as impurities in commercial PBDE mixtures (Hanari et al 2006), have been measured in adipose tissue (Choi et al 2003), and share many of the toxicological characteristics of their chlorinated analogs . High levels of PBDDs, exceeding those of chlorinated dioxins, have been found in fish and shellfish from the Baltic Sea, and their natural origin has been suggested (Haglund et al 2007).…”

Emissions of PCDD/Fs, PBDD/Fs, dioxin like-PCBs and PAHs from a cement plant using a long-term monitoring system

“…PBDD/Fs have been found in matrices such as air, sediments, marine products, and human adipose samples (Choi et al, 2003;Li et al, 2008;Malmvärn et al, 2005;. Since the use of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) became extensive, especially for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), more brominated sources are available and there is an increased chance of PBDD/F formation in both natural environment and industrial processes (Du et al, 2010;Ortuño et al, 2014b).…”

Levels and Congener Profiles of Particle-bound Polybrominated Dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PBDD/Fs) in Ambient Air around Guangzhou, China

“…A certain number of reports and conferences have showed the occurrence of PBDD/Fs in ambient air (Hayakawa et al 2004;Li et al 2007Li et al , 2008Wang et al 2008), consumer products like plastics and TV sets (WHO 1998), sediments (Choi et al 2003a;Ren et al 2009), biota samples (Fernandes et al 2008) and even human samples (Choi et al 2003b), which proved that PBDD/Fs were ubiquitous in the environment. Toxicity equivalency quantity (TEQ) contributed by PBDD/Fs counted up to 15% of the total dioxin TEQ of five analyzed persistent organic pollutants (POPs) (Jogsten et al 2010).…”