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PBDE FLAME RETARDANTS: TOXICOLOGY, HEALTH EFFECTS, AND RISK ASSESSMENT
Citation:
BIRNBAUM, L. S. PBDE FLAME RETARDANTS: TOXICOLOGY, HEALTH EFFECTS, AND RISK ASSESSMENT. Presented at APHA 2004, Washington, DC, November 06 - 10, 2004.
Description:
Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants have been routinely added to consumer products for several decades in a successful effort to reduce fire-related injury and property damage. Global production of PBDEs has reached 67,000 metric tons per year. Recently concern has arisen because of the widespread occurrence of several classes of BFRs in the environment and in human biota. Although human data on health effects are limited, animal studies have found PBDEs to be neurodevelopmental toxics, disruptors of thyroid function and liver toxins. Health effects seen in animal studies are occurring at doses slightly higher than chemical levels found in some of the most highly exposed people in the U.S. Concurrent exposure to both PBDEs and PCBs, as from consuming some fatty fish, presents an increased risk. Because lower-brominated BDEs like penta and octa have the highest potential for bioaccumulation, they are smong the most common BDE classes found in fish and human biota. The EPA is currently updating toxicity assessments for PBDEs to consider emerging science. Additional research is needed on human exposures and health effects, as well as ongoing measurement of PBDE levels in the environment and living organisms.