Retrospective time-trend study of polybrominated diphenyl ether and polybrominated and polychlorinated biphenyl levels in human serum from the United States.

Abstract

Six polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), one hexabromobiphenyl [polybrominated biphenyl (PBB)], and one hexachlorobiphenyl [polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)] were measured in 40 human serum pools collected in the southeastern United States during 1985 through 2002 and in Seattle, Washington, for 1999 through 2002. The concentrations of most of the PBDEs, which are commercially used as flame retardants in common household and commercial applications, had significant positive correlations with time of sample collection, showing that the concentrations of these compounds are increasing in serum collected in the United States. In contrast, PCB and PBB levels were negatively correlated with sample collection year, indicating that the levels of these compounds have been decreasing since their phaseout in the 1970s.

Temporal trends of lipophilic persistent organic pollutants in serum from Danish nulliparous pregnant women 2011–2013

“…As alternatives to PCBs, other compounds such as polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were then introduced as flame retardants. PBBs and two types of PBDE mixtures (i.e., pentaBDEs and octaBDEs) have been phased out globally, and the use of a third type (i.e., decaBDEs) is being regulated (Sjodin et al 2004;Wu et al 2011). Several organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) have also been banned from use (Andersen et al 2002;Noren and Meironyte 2000).…”

A perspective on the potential risks of emerging contaminants to human and environmental health

“…Because PBDEs do not establish effective chemical bonds with the material during the fabrication process, the products can release these contaminants during handling and disposal. Consequently, different levels of PBDE congeners have emerged in the human blood, adipose tissue, breast milk, placental tissue, brain, marine mammals, fish, and bird eggs (Hopper and McDonald 2000;Siddiqi et al 2003;Sjödin et al 2014;Kodavanti and Ward 2005).…”

Physiological and biochemical responses and microscopic structure changes of Populus tomentosa Carr seedlings to 4-BDE exposure

“…4-Monobrominated diphenyl ether (4-BDE) was one of the less brominated PBDEs (Shih et al 2012) and considered as one of the environmental pollutants. Low but measurable amounts can be found in most environments (Myrto et al 2003;Sjödin et al 2004;Fürst 2006;Cathrine et al 2002). It has been investigated that environmental contaminant may cause many physiological, biochemical, and morphological alterations in exposed plants (Meredith et al 1987;Trapp et al 2001).…”