A review on human exposure to brominated flame retardants--particularly polybrominated diphenyl ethers. 2003

Andreas Sjödin, and Donald G Patterson, and Ake Bergman
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), Division for Laboratory Sciences (DLS), Organic Analytical Toxicology (OAT), 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Mail Stop F-17, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, USA. asjodin@cdc.gov

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have been and are still heavily used as additive or reactive chemicals in polymers and textiles. Only a few of the BFRs have been assessed in human subjects with a major data set on internal exposures to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Increasing PBDE levels have been observed in mothers' milk from Sweden as well as in blood from Germany and Norway. The levels are in general lower than PCB levels. However, the PBDE concentrations found in the North Americans are considerably higher compared to European subjects. The PBDEs are dominated by 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47). Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) is reported both in the general population and in occupationally exposed persons showing the bioavailability of this high molecular weight compound. While the lower and medium brominated diphenyl ethers are persistent, BDE-209 has a fairly short half-life of approximately 2 weeks. Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is readily eliminated in humans showing a half-life of about 2 days. Still, TBBPA is accumulated in humans but a continuous exposure to this BFR is required to maintain a certain level in the human subject. TBBPA has not been detected in the general population but in people exposed at work. The current review addresses human exposure routes and levels of BFRs.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010647 Phenyl Ethers Ethers that are linked to a benzene ring structure. Diphenyl Oxide,Diphenyl Oxides,Diphenyl Ethers,Ethers, Diphenyl,Ethers, Phenyl,Oxide, Diphenyl,Oxides, Diphenyl
D004781 Environmental Exposure The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents in the environment or to environmental factors that may include ionizing radiation, pathogenic organisms, or toxic chemicals. Exposure, Environmental,Environmental Exposures,Exposures, Environmental
D005411 Flame Retardants Materials applied to fabrics, bedding, furniture, plastics, etc. to retard their burning; many may leach out and cause allergies or other harm. Fire Retardant,Fire Retardants,Fireproofing Agent,Fireproofing Agents,Flame Retardant,Agent, Fireproofing,Agents, Fireproofing,Retardant, Fire,Retardant, Flame,Retardants, Fire,Retardants, Flame
D005506 Food Contamination The presence in food of harmful, unpalatable, or otherwise objectionable foreign substances, e.g. chemicals, microorganisms or diluents, before, during, or after processing or storage. Food Adulteration,Adulteration, Food,Adulterations, Food,Contamination, Food,Contaminations, Food,Food Adulterations,Food Contaminations
D006207 Half-Life The time it takes for a substance (drug, radioactive nuclide, or other) to lose half of its pharmacologic, physiologic, or radiologic activity. Halflife,Half Life,Half-Lifes,Halflifes
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006842 Hydrocarbons, Brominated Hydrocarbon compounds with one or more HYDROGEN atoms substituted with BROMINE. Brominated Hydrocarbons

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