Scientific Opinion on Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBBs) in Food

Abstract

EFSA was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) in food. PBBs are additive flame retardants which were applied in synthetic fibres and polymers. PBBs are present in the environment at low concentrations and likewise in biota and in food and feed. Data from the analysis of 16 PBB congeners in 794 food samples were provided to EFSA by 6 Member States, covering the period from 2003 to 2009. Toxicity studies were carried out with technical PBB mixtures of which the exact congener composition is not known. Main targets were the liver, thyroid hormone homeostasis and the reproductive, nervous and immune systems. PBBs are not directly genotoxic. The Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) selected the hepatic carcinogenic effects as the critical effect, with a no‐observed‐effect level (NOEL) of 0.15 mg/kg body weight (b.w.). Since this NOEL was obtained in a study with a technical PBB mixture, the congener profile of which differs from that currently found in food, the CONTAM Panel concluded that it was inappropriate to use this NOEL to derive a health based guidance value. The intake of PBBs by high and frequent consumers of fatty fish, the subgroup with the highest dietary exposure, was approximately 6 orders of magnitude less than this NOEL. Exposure for high consuming breast‐fed infants is 5 orders of magnitude less than this NOEL. Therefore the CONTAM Panel concluded that the risk to the European population from exposure to PBBs through the diet is of no concern. Since PBBs are no longer produced or used in Europe and taking into account low and declining environmental concentrations, the CONTAM Panel concluded that PBBs are a low priority for further research or monitoring efforts.

Guidance Document on Scientific criteria for grouping chemicals into assessment groups for human risk assessment of combined exposure to multiple chemicals

“… Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM): publication of a number of opinions involving case‐by‐case approaches to risk assessment of multiple contaminants. Component‐based approaches have included Toxic Equivalency Factors (TEF) approaches for non‐ortho polybrominated biphenyls and several groups of marine biotoxins (EFSA CONTAM Panel, 2009 , 2010 ). Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF): risk assessment of combined exposure to rum ether [Flavouring Group Evaluation 500 (FGE.500)] and grouping of 84 reported constituents for 12 congeneric groups allocated based on structural and metabolic similarity (EFSA CEF Panel, 2017 ).…”

“…Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM): publication of a number of opinions involving case‐by‐case approaches to risk assessment of multiple contaminants. Component‐based approaches have included Toxic Equivalency Factors (TEF) approaches for non‐ortho polybrominated biphenyls and several groups of marine biotoxins (EFSA CONTAM Panel, 2009 , 2010 ).…”

Cats’ Internal Exposure to Selected Brominated Flame Retardants and Organochlorines Correlated to House Dust and Cat Food

“…Other BFRs addressed here are decabromobiphenyl (BB-209), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), hexabromobenzene (HBB), and a brominated intermediate currently used in the BFR production and natural product (i.e., 2,4,6-tribromophenol; 2,4,6-TBP) all of which are reviewed and assessed by EFSA 2010-2012. ,, In 1976, the US stopped production of BB-209, but BB-209 continued to be produced in Europe (France) until 2000 . DBDPE was introduced as a replacement for decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) and has been on the market for more than 20 years .…”

Thyroid Dysfunction of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) after Early-Life Exposure and Discontinued Exposure to Tetrabromobiphenyl (BB-80) and OH-BB-80

“…A significant decrease in K values was observed for 14 days exposure to BB-80 in the 10 and 50 μg/L treatment groups (Table S7), indicating that the fish condition was worsened by BB-80. The administration of PBBs during early pregnancy in rats was reported to cause offspring with lower survival rate and malformations …”

“…After 14 days exposure and 7 days discontinued exposure, there was no statistical significance for TSH changes for OH-BB-80, while a significant decrease was observed in the BB-80 group (Figure C). Previous evidence indicated that exposure to PBBs decreased the serum T3/T4 levels and increased the TSH level in rodents . An excessive amount of THs is harmful to zebrafish larval development and may cause impaired growth of both pectoral and pelvic fins as well as severely defected development, particularly the inhibited development of scales and pigment patterns …”