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HEALTH EFFECTS OF BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANTS (BFRS)
Citation:
BIRNBAUM, L. S. HEALTH EFFECTS OF BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANTS (BFRS). Presented at American Chemical Society 232nd National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10 - 14, 2006.
Description:
BFRs are a broad class of compounds providing fire safety. Because of high production and usage and recent findings that they are ubiquitous in environmental samples and biota, concerns exist about potential health effects. Some of the major commercial products, such as tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), and the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), have been reported to be endocrine disruptors, developmental reproductive and neuro-toxicants, hepatic toxicants, and even carcinogens in animals. There is little margin of exposure for some of the developmental effects of certain PBDEs, based on studies in rodents. However, the data is still limited on which compounds are actually causing the toxicities. To date, there are no studies examining effects of any of these classes of compounds in people. However, because of their potential for persistence and bioaccumulation, precautionary voluntary and imposed regulations are being implemented worldwide. (This abstract does not reflect Environmental Protection Agency policy)