In vitro assessment of mutagenicity and clastogenicity of BDE‐99, a pentabrominated diphenyl ether flame retardant

Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which are widely used as flame retardants, are considered persistent organic pollutants. To date, the available toxicological data on PBDEs are limited and were primarily obtained by studying technical blends. The present study was undertaken to investigate the genotoxicity of the pure congener 2,2',4,4',5-brominated diphenyl ether (BDE-99), one of the major isomers present in penta-commercial products. Bacterial reverse mutation assays in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100 and in Escherichia coli WP2 uvrA, and the Allium cepa chromosome aberration test were carried out to evaluate mutagenicity and clastogenicity. The experimental design also involved testing a well-known polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixture, Aroclor(R) 1254, which is structurally related to PBDEs. BDE-99 was negative in the bacterial mutagenicity assays, with and without S9 mix. Also, the frequency of structural chromosome aberrations was not significantly higher than the control and no signs of cytotoxicity were observed in BDE-99-treated A. cepa. Aroclor(R) 1254 was not mutagenic, but it induced a significant increase in chromosomal aberrations in A. cepa. In conclusion, BDE-99 was not mutagenic in S. typhimurium or E. coli, or clastogenic in A. cepa; however, the possibility that PBDEs might act through an epigenetic mechanism cannot be excluded.

BDE-99 (2,2′,4,4′,5-pentabromodiphenyl Ether) Triggers Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition in Colorectal Cancer Cells via PI3K/Akt/Snail Signaling Pathway

“…In the present study, we demonstrated that 10 −10 to 10 −4 M BDE-99 has limited effects on the proliferation of colorectal HCT-116 cells. This finding is consistent with a previous study showing that the frequency of structural chromosome aberrations was not significantly higher than the control and no sign of cytotoxicity was observed in BDE-99-treated Allium cepa (26). The study of Slotkin et al also showed that growth of PC12 cells was unimpaired by BDE-99 at 50 μM (27).…”

Scientific Opinion on Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in Food

“…did not induce gene mutations in the Ames test neither chromosomal aberration in the Allium test (Evandri et al, 2003).…”

Developmental neurotoxicity of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants

“…For instance, in subchronic toxicity studies in rat, NOEL (no-observed-effect-level) values are usually in the g/kg/day range for decaBDE, but less than 10 mg/kg/day for pentaBDE ). PBDEs are not genotoxic (Hardy, 2002;Evandri et al 2003), but an increased incidence of hepatocellular carcinomas and of thyroid adenomas have been observed in rodents upon exposure to BDE-209 (NTP, 1986;Darnerud et al 2001). Reproductive toxicity has also been reported.…”