Polybrominated diphenyl ethers contamination pathways

Harrad S, de Wit CA, Abdallah MAE, Bergh C, Bjorklund JA, Covad A, Damerud PO, de Boer J, Diamond M, Huber S, Leonards P, Mandalakis M, Oestman C, Haug LS, Thomsen C, Webster TF (2010) Indoor contamination with hexabromocyclododecanes, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and perfluoroalkyl compounds an important exposure pathway for people Environ Sci Technol 44 3221-3231... 

The structural range of industrially important representatives of these groups is enormous, and includes chlorobenzenes (solvents), to PCBs (hydraulic and insulating fluids), and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) ethers (flame retardants). There is widespread concern over both the persistence and the potential toxicity of all these compounds, so that sites contaminated during their production represent a threat both to the environment and to human health. Comments have already been made in Chapter 6, Section 6.5.1.1 on the pathways for the aerobic bacterial degradation of chlorobenzenes and chlorobiphenyls. 

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