Environmental fate of five brominated flame retardants co-exposure in a water-sediment-zebrafish microcosm system: Enrichment, removal, and metabolism mechanisms

Bis(2-ethylhexyl)-tetrabromophthalate Poses a Higher Exposure Risk and Induces Gender-Specific Metabolic Disruptions in Zebrafish Liver

“…According to the model, the half-life of TBPH in different tissues was as follows: gonad (2.89 days) < liver (4.20 days) < brain (11.75 days) < muscle (14.52 days) in female zebrafish and liver (2.65 days) < muscle (5.14 days) < gonad (6.52 days) < brain (15.67 days) in male zebrafish. The estimated half-life of TBPH in zebrafish liver was comparable to that of other brominated flame retardants in earlier studies, ranging from 3.62 to 4.26 days . TBPH exhibited a tendency to persist more in the brain and muscle, with longer half-lives in both female and male zebrafish.…”

“…As per a previous study, on exposing zebrafish to five brominated flame retardants for 35 days, their concentrations tended to reach dynamic equilibrium after 21 days . Therefore, in this study, we conducted a 28-day exposure to evaluate TBPH accumulation in female and male zebrafish tissues (brain, liver, gonad, and muscle).…”

“…The estimated half-life of TBPH in zebrafish liver was comparable to that of other brominated flame retardants in earlier studies, ranging from 3.62 to 4.26 days. 23 TBPH exhibited a tendency to persist more in the brain and muscle, with longer half-lives in both female and male zebrafish. Several factors may contribute to the slower clearance rate of TBPH in brain tissue: (1) their high affinity for lipid tissues leads to accumulation in lipid-rich brain tissue over time, hindering clearance; 30 (2) microcirculatory properties, such as slower cerebral blood flow and less dense blood vessels, contribute to prolonged retention of exposures; 31 and (3) the presence of the blood−brain barrier presents a challenge for molecules to cross into or out of brain tissue, resulting in slower clearance rates.…”

“…As per a previous study, on exposing zebrafish to five brominated flame retardants for 35 days, their concentrations tended to reach dynamic equilibrium after 21 days. 23 Therefore, in this study, we conducted a 28day exposure to evaluate TBPH accumulation in female and male zebrafish tissues (brain, liver, gonad, and muscle). These tissues are relatively accessible and serve as the main target organs for traditional brominated flame retardants, causing neurotoxicity, disruption of reproductive endocrine function, metabolic interference, and motor activity (muscle contraction).…”

Evidence for Adverse Effects on Liver Development and Regeneration in Zebrafish by Decabromodiphenyl Ethane

“…14 What is more, a recent study profiled the distribution of BFRs such as DBDPE, BTBPE, and BDE209 in six tissues of zebrafish and found that the maximum enrichment of ΣBFRs was in the order of liver > intestine > gill > brain > roe > muscle. 15 Based on the above information, we hypothesize that DBDPE poses a direct exposure risk to liver tissue.…”