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INTRODUCTION TO BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANTS
Citation:
BIRNBAUM, L. S. INTRODUCTION TO BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANTS. Presented at Region 2 Science Day, New York, NY, October 25 - 26, 2005.
Description:
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are a large and diverse class of major industrial products used to provide fire safety. Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), Hexabromocylocodecane (HBCD), and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) are the major commercial compounds. TBBPA is a reactive FR with limited toxicity and persistence. HBCD and the PBDEs are additive FRs, which are persistent and have potential to bioaccumulate. All of these BFRs have some evidence of endocrine disruption. There are 3 commercial PBDE mixtures known as Penta, Octa, and Deca; Penta and Octa are no longer being produced, but Deca continues as a major product. Many of the congeners present in the Penta and Octa mixtures are found in wildlife and people, and the levels have increased exponentially. Recently, Deca congeners have also been found in biota. While Deca has been shown to cause tumors in rodents after long-term high exposures, the lower brominated congeners have been found to be developmental reproductive and neurotoxicants, and perturb thyroid, estrogen, and androgenic systems. The breakdown of Deca to lower brominated congeners is of increasing concern. Overall, the margin of exposure for PBDEs between body burdens associated with effects in animals and the high end of the background US population is <10. (This abstract does not reflect Agency policy.)