Decabromodiphenyl ether PBDE

PBDEs were detected in all the sediment samples collected along the Cinca River, at concentrations ranging from 2 to 131ng/g dw (Table 7.2.2). HBCD was detected only in samples collected downstream of Monzon, with levels ranging between 90 and 1613 ng/g dw. In these samples, HBCD contamination was greater than that observed for PBDEs. Site C3 was found to be the most contaminated zone, followed by site C4 > site Cl = site C2. As expected, decabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE) and HBCD levels were greater near the site of industrial impact. 

Zhou J, Yu Y, Chen D, Zhong Y. Effects of maternal oral feeding of decabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE 209) on the humoral immunity of offspring rats. J Trop Med (Guangzhou) 2010 10 (3) 276-279. 

There is a huge variety of PBDEs considering that there might be from one to ten bromine atoms bound to the diphenyl ether molecule. Among all the PBDEs, the commercial mixtures of decabromodiphenyl ether (deca-BDE), octabromodiphenyl ether (octa-BDE) and pentabromodiphenyl ether (penta-BDE) are the products that are most found in the environment. Related to octa-BDE and penta-BDE mixtures, their commercial use was banned in the European Union in 2004 and that year their leading manufacturers in North America stopped producing them on a voluntary basis [2], Regarding the deca-BDE mixture, since July 2008, its use has been... 

McKinney MA, Dietz R, Sonne C, De Guise S, Sklmisson K, Karlsson K, Stemgrimsson E, Letcher RJ (2011) Comparative hepatic microsomal biotransformation of selected PBDEs, including decabromodiphenyl ether, and decabromodiphenyl ethane flame retardants in Arctic marine-feeding mammals. Environ Toxicol Chem 30 1506-1514... 

Fig. 16.19 GC-ECD chromatograms showing appearance of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners, after sunlight irradiation of BDE-209 (retention time = 88.7 min) adsorbed on montmorillonite, at different times. Reprinted with permission from Ahn MY, Filley TR, Jafvert CT, Nies L, Hua I, Bezares-Cruz J (2006) Photodegradation of decabromodiphenyl ether adsorbed onto clay minerals, metal oxides, and sediment. Environ. Sci. Technol. 40 215-220. Copyright 2006. American Chemical Society...

It is unclear if PBDEs can cause cancer in people, although liver tumors developed in rats and mice that ate decabromodiphenyl ether throughout their lives. Decabromodiphenyl ether is one type of PBDEs other kinds of PBDEs have not yet been tested for cancer. Based on the evidence... 

DeBDE=Decabromodiphenyl ether HpBDE=Heptabromodiphenyl ether HxBDE=Hexabromodiphenyl ether NoBDE=Nonabromodiphenyl ether OcBDE=Octabromodiphenyl ether PBDE=Polybrominated diphenyl ether PeBDE=Pentabromodiphenyl ether TeBDE=Tetrabromodiphenyl ether TrBDE=Tribromodiphenyl ether... 

PBDEs including decabromodiphenyl ether, octabromodiphenyl ether, and pentabromodiphenyl ether are required to report health and safety data under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) (EPA 2002). 

PBDEs are a class of 209 chemicals that are distinguished by the average number and arrangement of bromine atoms in the molecule—ranging from one bromine atom (monobromodiphenyl ether or monoBDE) to ten bromine atoms (decabromodiphenyl ether or decaBDE). Until recently, the PBDE flame retardant formulations on the market were pentaBDE (five bromine atoms), octaBDE (eight bromine atoms), and decaBDE. PentaBDE and octaBDE were voluntarily removed from the market in 2003 (pentaBDE) and 2004 (octaBDE) by the manufacturer, Chemtura (formerly Great Lakes Chemical), when it became clear that these chemicals were targeted for elimination in Europe and certain states in the US. 

See AC Gerecke, PC Hartmann, NV Heeb, et al. 2005. Anaerobic Degradation of Decabromodiphenyl Ether. Environmental Science and Technology 39 1078-1083 and J He, KR Robrock and L Alvarez-Cohen. 2006. Microbial Reductive Debromination of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs). Environmental Science and Technology AQ-AA29-AA3A. 

The polybrominated diphenyl ethers (decabromodiphenyl ether, octabromodiphenyl ether) have been the most widely used of the brominated materials. These additives are cost efficient and are the conventional choice for high-impact polystyrene, ABS, and other styrenics. However, their use has been under challenge for environmental reasons. Other brominated species that cannot generate dioxin species under any conditions are now more in favour than PBDEs. 

Of the PBDE group, decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) is the most widely used and, according to studies, no trace of decaBDE has been found in the environment. What is more, current research has shown that this compound cannot be broken down into the shorter chain compounds. TBBPA and HBCD, used in a wide range of products, have not been found in the environment either, according to this current research. 

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