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PET CATS IN THE U.S. HAVE HIGH POLYBROMINATED DIPHENYL ETHER (PBDE) SERUM LEVELS
Citation:
DYE, J. A., M. VENIER, C. R. WARD, R. A. HITES, AND L. S. BIRNBAUM. PET CATS IN THE U.S. HAVE HIGH POLYBROMINATED DIPHENYL ETHER (PBDE) SERUM LEVELS. Presented at Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, Charlotte, NC, March 25 - 29, 2007.
Description:
Coincident with the introduction of bromi¬nated flame-retardants in consumer products nearly 30 years ago, hyperthyroidism in cats has increased substantially. We hypothesize that increasing exposure to PBDEs has, in some manner, contributed to the abrupt increase in and now common occurrence of hyper¬thyroidism in older pet cats. In this pilot study, we assessed the feasibility of detecting PBDEs in small serum volumes that could be safely collected from geriatric cats. We evaluated 14 cats [4 young, 4 older, non-hyperthyroid (non-HT), and 6 hyperthyroid (HT) cats]. Results demonstrated that even in 1¿2 mL of serum, a variety of congeners were readily detected (i.e., BDE-47, -99, -100, -153 and/or -154, -183, -207, -208-, and -209). Other congeners (i.e., BDE-66, -85, -196, -197, and -201) were present in some cats, in lesser quantities. Owing to insensitivity of the gravimetric lipid assay used, we were not able to accurately determine sample lipid content. Hence, results are expressed as the concentration of ΣPBDEs (ng/mL) present. The mean ±SE (and median) ΣPBDE serum concentrations in young, non-HT, and HT cats were 4.4 ± 2.0 (2.7), 7.20 ± 3.4 (4.76), and 15.0 ± 6.7 (5.55) ng/mL, respectively. We conclude that pet cats - with expo¬sures likely paralleling that of their owners - are useful sentinels to assess potential endocrine health outcome related to cumulative, low-level PBDE exposure. (This abstract does not reflect USEPA policy).