Human Exposure to PBDEs:  Associations of PBDE Body Burdens with Food Consumption and House Dust Concentrations

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the body burden of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) among first-time mothers in the Greater Boston, Massachusetts area and to explore key routes of exposure. We collected breast milk samples from 46 first-time mothers, 2-8 weeks after birth. We also sampled house dust from the homes of a subset of participants by vacuuming commonly used areas. Data on personal characteristics, diet, home furniture, and electrical devices were gathered from each participant using a questionnaire. Breast milk and dust samples were analyzed for PBDEs using gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry. PBDE concentrations were log-normally distributed in breast milk and dust. We found statistically significant, positive associations between PBDE concentrations in breast milk and house dust (r = 0.76, p = 0.003, not including BDE-209), as well as with reported dietary habits, particularly the consumption of dairy products (r = 0.41, p = 0.005) and meat (r = 0.37, p = 0.01). Due to low detection rates, it was not possible to draw conclusions about the association between BDE-209 in milk and dust. Our results support the hypothesis that the indoor environment and diet both play prominent roles in adult human exposure to PBDEs.

Quantified outdoor micro-activity data for children aged 7–12-years old

“…The results from the current study and from the Nicas and Best (2008) study indicate that the older children and adults may have higher mouthing frequency than the previously published findings (Freeman et al, 2001), which could result in greater non-dietary ingestion exposures than had been previously anticipated in these age groups. With the current concerns regarding dust ingestion exposure in lactating women (Wu et al, 2007) and disease transmission such as influenza from hand and object-to-mouth contacts (Nicas and Best, 2008), future work should focus on understanding the mouthing behaviors and non-dietary ingestion exposures in older children and adults as well as in young children.…”

Indoor Contamination with Hexabromocyclododecanes, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, and Perfluoroalkyl Compounds: An Important Exposure Pathway for People?

“…HBCD concentrations in dust but not diet were correlated positively with those in Belgian serum (21). In both the Belgian and U.S. studies (11,54), difficulties in detecting BDE-209 in the milk or serum of participants meant the existence of a relationship between intake and body burden for BDE-209 could not be assessed. In contrast, BDE-209 was detected in the majority of Australian human milk samples but displayed no correlation with either air or dust (95).…”

“…Six such studies exist for PBDEs (11,54,(95)(96)(97)(98) with one examining HBCDs (21). With two possible exceptions (96,97), study power is limited by small participant numbers.…”

Developmental neurotoxicity of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants

“…Although PBDE contamination of food is currently higher in the USA than in other countries, diet alone cannot explain the higher levels of PBDEs in the general U.S. population (Jones-Otazo et al 2005;Wilford et al 2005;Schecter et al 2006a;Fischer et al 2006;Lorber, 2007). Several studies have indicated that house dust is a major source of exposure to PBDEs (Jones-Otazo et al 2005;Schecter et al 2005b;Wu et al 2007). For toddlers in particular, dust has been estimated to account for 80% to 93% of PBDE exposure .…”